Over 100,000 Ukrainian citizens granted refugee status in Russia
GORKI. Sept 8 (Interfax) - Russia has granted refugee status to 105,000 Ukrainian citizens, and 500 individuals are applying daily to join the program of voluntary resettlement of compatriots from abroad, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak said.
"I would like to remind you that this [refugee] status has been granted to 105,000 citizens of Ukraine. There are lots of citizens, practically 500 persons a day, who are applying to join the program of voluntary resettlement of compatriots from abroad," Kozak said at a meeting between Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and deputy prime ministers.
He added that the program quota should be enlarged to 20,000 persons.
"These parameters [of the voluntary resettlement program] have already been exceeded. A total of 18,000 persons have applied to participate," Kozak said, adding that as of September 5, 4,500 Ukrainians had joined the program.
Many Ukrainian citizens wish to go to the Far East, and regions have been ordered to expand regional programs of voluntary resettlement of compatriots from abroad to a total number of 20,000, he added.