About 1,000 Afghan citizens allowed to come to Russia - community representative

MOSCOW. Aug 25 (Interfax) - The Russian embassy in Kabul has allowed about 1,000 Afghan citizens to come to Russia; these include Afghan citizens of Russian origin, students of Russian higher educational establishments, residence permit holders and persons with Russian work permits, President of the Center for the Afghan Diaspora in Russia Ghulam Mohammad Jalal told Interfax.

"The Russian embassy to Afghanistan has responded to our requests. I have received calls saying that four categories of people have been allowed [to come to Russia from Afghanistan], these are Afghan citizens of Russian origin, students of Russian higher educational establishments, workers of economic entities who have a valid visa and a work permit, and the fourth category is people with a residence permit. These people have been told to contact the embassy: they will be able to return to Russia following the technical reopening of the airport," Jalal said.

The permission has been granted to about 1,000 people, he said.

The community hopes that the embassy will also allow Afghan citizens who used to study and live in Russia to come to Russia again.

"What's left is the persons we have also asked [the embassy to allow to come to Russia], they used to study here, these are friends, servicemen. They also contact us, and we are receiving numerous letters from them. Yes, we understand that terrorists and members of ISIL (terrorist organization banned in Russia) may come under a refugee disguise, but we will guarantee the arrival of only those persons whom we know, who studied here, and who lived here," Jalal said.