According to FMS representatives, in 2008 it is planned to return 100,000 people to Russia. Meanwhile, since the program's launch in 2006, the number of repatriates has been just over 2,000 people. According to the head of the FMS Department for Compatriots, Yevgeny Manyatkin, currently 9,000 applications are under review, which could allow 24,000 people to return to Russia. Yevgeny Manyatkin believes that in addition to qualified specialists, students and entrepreneurs should be included in the program.
As Lenta.ru notes, the program was launched in 2006. It is designed for the period from 2006 to 2012 and provides financial assistance and compensation packages for qualified specialists who wish to return to Russia with their families. However, only 12 regions participate in the program, which does not suit many expatriates living abroad. About four billion rubles are allocated annually for the program's implementation.