According to a statement made by the director of the Federal Migration Services of Russia, Konstantin Romodanovskiy, more than a third of migrants arriving in Russia stay in Moscow and in the vicinity of the Moscow region, reported Vesti.uz. “Migrants need to be directed where there is need for them and not where they want to live,” the news source quoted Romodanovskiy as saying.

The director added that it is also unacceptable to allow migrants to feel as outcasts in their host country, and stressed the importance of tolerance-building in Russia.

According to Romodanovskiy, the amendment of the Law on Citizenship facilitating naturalization of the newcomers is one measure in this direction, reported Vesti.uz. During the past five years, more than one million citizens from the former Soviet republics have received Russian citizenship.

This information was originally published June 16, 2007 (www.vesti.uz)