Regional Conference on Migration in Russia and
Central Asia
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE FIELD OF MIGRATION OVER THE PAST
TWO YEARS IN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
Irina Davtyan
Deputy Chief of the State Migration Service of the Ministry of Territorial
Administration and Emergency Situations
National Coordinator of the MIRPAL Network
in the Republic of Armenia
Almaty, Kazakhstan
June 29-30, 2015
Signing of the Agreement on the Accession of the Republic of Armenia to the
Eurasian Economic Union
•
The agreement signed on 10 October 2014;
•
It came into force on 2nd January 2015;
•
The agreement, in terms of migration, only applies to migrant workers and their
families;
•
The agreement consists of 118 articles and 33 applications, of which 3 Articles (9698) and one Annex (30) relate to the migration.
Signing of the Agreement on the Accession of the Republic of Armenia to
the Eurasian Economic Union
1.
•
In accordance with Article 97 of the Agreement:
workers of the Member States are not required to obtain permits for work in the
State of employment;
•
Member States shall not establish or apply restrictions imposed by their
legislation in order to protect national labor market, with the exception of
restrictions established in order to ensure national security;
•
education documents issued by the educational institutions of Member States
are shall be recognized, notwithstanding the procedures for recognition of
qualifications stipulated by legislation of the state of the employment (except for
educational, legal, medical or pharmaceutical activities)
Signing of the Agreement on the Accession of the Republic of Armenia to
the Eurasian Economic Union
•
The period of temporary stay (residence) of employee from a Member State and
his/her family members in the State of employment is determined by the duration of
the employment or civil contract entered into by an employee from Member State
with the employer or customer;
•
Nationals of Member States who have arrived for employment purposes in the
territory of another Member State and their family members shall be exempt from
the obligation of registration (within 30 days from the date of entry.Граждане
государства-члена.
•
Nationals of a Member State when entering the territory of another Member State
based on one of the valid documents permitting affixing marks of the border control
authorities of the border crossings, shall be exempt from the use of the migration
card (card) on condition that duration of their stay does not exceed 30 days from the
date of entry, if such a requirement is set by legislation of the state of entry.
Cooperation with the Russian side to lift a ban on the entrance of citizens of
the Republic of Armenia to the Russian Federation
•
The main migration flows from Armenia is to Russia. 95% of seasonal workers and 70-75% of
long-term migrants choose this country.
•
As a result of tightening migration legislation of Russia and the recent practice, entry of
foreigners in the Russian Federation who have committed any violation in this country, in the
future shall be prohibited.
•
According to Russian sources, more than 3 million persons were among the violators of
legislation of the Russian Federation, in respect of which the prohibition on entry into the
Russian Federation for up to 10 years was enforced.
According to the same sources, the number of Armenian citizens who are at such risk is about
173,000.
•
•
An estimated 32,000 Armenian citizens have found themselves in a situation when after leaving
the territory of the Russian Federation, and arriving mainly in Armenia, they can not go back to
Russia.
Cooperation with the Russian side to lift a ban on the entrance of citizens of
the Republic of Armenia to the Russian Federation
•
In order to solve problems of the above-mentioned persons, an agreement was reached
between the State Migration Service of Armenia and the Federal Migration Service of Russia,
according to which applications of the RA citizens to lift the ban on entry into the Russian
Federation, together with the accompanying documents are collected and transferred to the
Russian side.
•
These works started from June 2014.
•
As of 1st June 2015, the Service received 8,794 applications, of which 8,204 was sent to the
Federal Migration Service of Russia.
•
Responses were received regarding 5,594 individuals, of which positive responses have been
received in respect of 2,215, which makes 39.5% of the total number of responses.
Cooperation with the Russian side to lift a ban on the entrance of citizens of
the Republic of Armenia to the Russian Federation
Despite the achieved results, the following questions remain problematic:
•
There are numerous cases where, even with the positive response of the FMS of Russia, our
citizens can not enter the territory of the Russian Federation, as information about the decision
of the FMS of Russia on the opening of their entry at border checkpoints is missing.
•
There are cases when the Russian Federal Migration Service reports that it is not the initiator of
the decision to prohibit visiting Russian Federation. The problem is that very often the above
mentioned persons do not have a slightest idea about what the violation they committed, as
well as which organ, and for how long closed the entrance to Russia.
•
No less pressing is the question of our citizens who are in the so-called " risk group". That's
173,000 people. On the one hand they do everything to avoid leaving Russia as they are well
aware that it is fraught with the closure of entrance to Russia for them. On the other hand,
staying in Russia, they aggravate their condition of illegal migrants and are deprived of the
opportunity to take advantage of the privileges offered by Armenia's membership in the EEC. It
turns out that they do not have any alternative and they are in thrall to the circumstances.
Decline in remittances sent to Armenia
The amount of money transfers to Armenia only through the banking system in
2014 was $ 1.73 billion, or 15.7% of GDP
Compared with 2013, the volume of remittances in 2014 declined by 7.6%.,
• including from Russia - 10.7%.
During the first four months of 2015 decline, compared to the same period in
2014 amounted to 34.9%.
• including from Russia – 42.4%
The share of Russia in the amount of remittances coming into Armenia:
• 2013 – 86,0 %
• 2014 – 83,0 %
• 2015 – 71.1 %
Decline in remittances sent to Armenia
The sharp decline in remittances contains a number of risks, both for the economy
and for the population of Armenia. For example:
• reduction of foreign currency transfers reduces currency volume, which adversely
affects exchange rate of national currency – dram
•
purchasing power of population is falling;
•
families of migrant workers whose livelihood strongly depends on remittances, are
in a critical situation.
Inflow of refugees from Syria and Ukraine to Armenia
Escaping from civil war in Syria, almost 16,000 of its citizens, mostly of Armenian origin,
have found protection in Armenia; of which about 1,000 have applied for asylum.
The Armenian Government has adopted a series of measures to provide necessary
assistance and the refugee status, in particular:
•
•
•
Consideration of their asylum applications in an expeditious manner;
Providing residence permits in an expedited basis;
Granting of citizenship in a simplified manner.
Inflow of refugees from Syria and Ukraine to Armenia
There has been also a steady stream of refugees from Ukraine to Armenia.
Their exact number is difficult to specify, since they freely enter into Armenia
due to visa-free regime, and do not always apply to the state authorities or
register.
Out of them, 160 people have applied for asylum.
•
•
•
As a result, over the past year about 13-14 thousand refugees from Syria and
Ukraine moved to Armenia. Compared with other countries hosting refugees, the
figure is not great.
However, this is a very heavy burden for a small country having:
unresolved conflict;
two closed borders;
difficult economic situation.
Mainstreaming migrants integration in migration policy of the Republic of Armenia
•
•
In September 2014, pursuant to the decision of the Government of the Republic of
Armenia, internet portal called tundarc.am (which means to return home), was opened.
This site is intended for Armenian citizens, who intend to return to Armenia, or have
already returned to Armenia from other countries.
The site allows:
•
•
obtain useful information about the process of return and reintegration, as well as
programs operating in these areas;
apply directly to the appropriate public authorities with a specific question or suggestion.
Mainstreaming migrants integration in migration policy of the Republic of
Armenia
•
Reintegration Advisory Centre (RAC) established within the framework of the
Project "Targeted Initiative for Armenia" funded by the European Union in close
collaboration with the State Migration Service of the Ministry of Territorial
Administration and Emergency Situations of Armenia serves the needs of all those
people who after returning from overseas are in need of assistance for settlement
in Armenia.
•
RAC helps RA citizens returning to Armenia from EU countries.
•
The center keeps periodically updated information about all reintegration
programs implemented in Armenia.
•
The program provides reintegration assistance. Returnees may also be directed to
other organizations implementing reintegration programs.
Migratory flows of the population of Armenia in 2007-2013
Results from of the survey are as follows:
EMIGRATION
• Compared with 2002-2006, the annual outflow of population grew by 20% - from
25,000 to 30,000;
• In 2002-2006, the ratio of migrant workers and persons leaving for permanent
residence within the total number of migrants was respectively 60% and 40%. In
2007-2013, this figure was already
Reasons for Leaving the Country
• in 8 out of 10 cases – search of work;
• 14.5% - due to family circumstances (family reunification, marriage, divorce, etc.)
Migratory flows of the population of Armenia in 2007-2013
Geography
Among all migrants
•
almost 90% left to Russia. In 2002-2007, the same figure was 76.4%;
•
4.4% - European countries, in particular France 1.5 %;
•
1.2 % - the USA;
•
0.9 % - other CIS countries.
Migratory flows of the population of Armenia in 2007-2013
Reasons for Migration
• 25 % - law wages
• 18.7 % - uncertainty about the future
• 17.5 % - lack of employment opportunities
• 15.1% - the need to earn money for household members
Main occupation
• House building, almost 60% in 2013 as against 56.75% in 2007
Reasons for Return
• 34.7 % - family reunification;
• 22.2 % - other family circumstances
• 15,0 % - achievement of the objectives
Migratory flows of the population of Armenia in 2007-2013
IMMIGRATION
• 28 % - from Russia
• 28 % - from Syria
• 9.1 % - from Georgia (in 2002-2008, this figure was 28 %)
More information is available from the official
site of the
State Migration Service of the Republic of
Armenia
Ministry of Territorial Administration and
Emergency Situations at
www.smsmta.am