Putin: Russia Interested In Returning Compatriots Living Abroad

Vladimir Putin has said that Russia is interested in Russian compatriots' returning home from abroad. While speaking Thursday to the Congress of Compatriots that gathered in Moscow, the president said that the legislation must be upgraded for this purpose. According to Putin, the people whom Russia needs expect to be granted the right to live in our country for a fairly long time. The president stressed at the same time that compatriots living abroad must enjoy equal rights with corresponding countries' citizens. The state should promote this in a persistent and qualified manner, he said. Putin also said that Russian businessmen would "only benefit" from close interaction with our compatriots abroad. Besides, the president accentuated the need to fight against illegal migration.