Number Of Russians Willing To Move To Russia Reduces In Kirghizia

The number of Russians willing to become Russia's permanent residents has significantly reduced in Kirghizia, reported at a Wednesday press conference head of the Russian migration service mission to Bishkek Boris Asaulyuk. According to his information, for 6 months of this year some 12.000 people have submitted applications on moving to Russia. The figure was 43.000 for last year's same period. For the whole last year 20.000 Russians left Kirghizia. Boris Asaulyuk thinks this year this index at least will not be exceeded. According to him, migration activity among Russians reduced in particular because the Kirghiz leadership had adopted a number of legislative acts on increasing the legal status of Russians in the republic, including Kirghiz President Askar Akayev's initiative on making Russian an official language in the country.