RIA Novosti, Russia
July 8 2005

Russia extends agreement with Armenia on voluntary migration

MOSCOW, July 8 (RIA Novosti) – The State Duma, the lower house of the
Russian parliament, extended Friday a Russian-Armenian agreement on
voluntary migration for another five years.

The document was signed in Moscow in August 1997 and extended in
March 2004 in Yerevan. The agreement covers the procedure for the
migration of Russian and Armenian citizens from one state to the
other, as well as the protection of the property rights of the
migrants and their families.

Under the agreement, migrants are not restricted in bringing in or
taking out property and will be exempt from customs duties, taxes and
dues. Russia and Armenia undertake to assist migrants and their
families in leasing, purchasing and building housing.

An Interior Ministry official said about 10,000-12,000 Russians lived
in Armenia. More than 200 people left Armenia for Russia last year.
About 2,000 people in Armenia said they wanted to live in Russia on a
permanent basis.