And average Ukrainians go to neighboring Russia, especially since 2006, on the initiative of Vladimir Putin, the Program for the Return of Compatriots has been in operation there, which includes all those born in the former Soviet expanses or in the USSR itself. Such migrants with their families are lured by Russian consulates with a number of benefits: duty-free import of property and a car, compensation for travel and baggage costs. Also, relocation allowances of 60-120 thousand rubles ($2000-$4000) are paid to the program participant and 20-40 thousand rubles ($650-$1300) to members of his family. The region receiving the migrant is obliged to provide him with work.
But the main benefit is the accelerated procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship, which makes it possible to work legally or receive a pension, as well as take out loans. A Ukrainian, Uzbek, or Kazakh is made a Russian citizen in six months.
But it is worth considering that only regions distant from the capital and often depressed, including the Far East, Siberia, the Urals, and the Kaliningrad region, are ready to accept such a migrant. However, for enterprising migrants this is not a problem. “Very many come to us, wait for the change of citizenship, and then with a Russian passport no one prevents them from going to work in Moscow. Many who have come to us do just that,” a representative of the employment center of the Tambov region, involved in resettling migrants in that region, told us.
The main problem is housing, which can be provided only temporarily (up to six months), and then the migrant must either buy a roof over his head himself with the proceeds from the sale of housing in his homeland, or the employer takes care of it.
According to statistics, every seventh migrant in Primorsky Krai is attracted both by the rapid development of this remote region of Russia and by the close proximity to countries of developed capitalism – Japan and South Korea. Two years ago in Ussuriysk I met the Belan family from Lisichansk. They came here, having lost their jobs in Ukraine and hoping for a better future for their 14-year-old son.
For a while, the head of the family worked as an equipment repair technician at the Ussuriysk cardboard factory, and now they have moved to Nakhodka. “We live in a rented apartment. In the city, we took land on lease for individual housing construction. We are now processing documents. However, whether we will build or not is a big question, because my husband got a job at Dalnefteprovod LLC (Transneft) in the city of Dalnerechensk as a process engineer, and there the company is building a house for employees. It will be put into operation in January,” said Lyudmila Belan, now a Russian citizen.
According to her, this year the number of benefits for migrants increased: they abolished the 30% tax, now they immediately pay 13% tax as Russian citizens. Doctors and teachers are provided with housing, and there is also a preferential mortgage lending program for them. “We do not regret moving,” continues Lyudmila. “My son and I received citizenship in January 2011. My husband a little earlier. From our small town in Ukraine, two families are preparing to leave for Nakhodka, another young couple is going to Kursk. Our relatives also want to, but so far there are no funds.”
In May, a family from Horlivka moved to Nakhodka, the head of which, having a legal education, was forced to work as a driver. Their second child was born here, for whom they will start receiving assistance after obtaining Russian citizenship. For now, the couple rents a 3-room apartment for $540, which is possible with the husband's salary of 30 thousand rubles ($960) as a city bus driver.
They are planning to take out a mortgage using the relocation allowance as a down payment. Now they are deciding whether to buy an apartment or build a house using Canadian technology at the price of an apartment, which is very popular here. “For those with a higher legal education, there is an opportunity to take a retraining course in 'Customs Affairs.' He wants to find out everything and take advantage of this chance,” says Lyudmila. “Customs officers have good salaries and are in high demand. He is considering the police option, where good lawyers are also needed now.”
Irina KOVALCHUK.
Based on materials from the newspaper "Segodnya"