The Head of HCA Vanadzor office, Artur Sakunts, considers the agreement on the status of RF citizens in Armenia and the status of Armenian citizens in Russia signed between the governments of Russia and Armenia an oppressing leverage against Armenia. He is convinced that under this agreement, leverages are created to exert pressure against the former USSR and CIS member states.
Recall that the Agreement reads that the citizens of a foreign country with a temporary residence in the territory of another state are exempt from the obligation to be registered (to be registered according to the place of stay) at the competent authorities of the entrance state within 30 days obligation. “By introducing arbitrary restrictions in migration legislation, and later, as a result of separate negotiations, additional leverages are created in Russia through removal of these restrictions to exercise their imperialistic policies. Given that the majority of CIS member states’ unemployed citizens are leaving for Russia for migrant work, it is also a leverage to impose the policy to join the Eurasian Union. The authorities of the member states, which are very weak intheir countries in terms of economic policy, Russia will take advantage of their weakness to obtain additional concessions,” said Mr. Sakunts to Aravot.am.
In his opinion, the new agreement will not contribute to the growth of the flow of Armenian migrants, because “Migration is not due to the fact that Russia is attractive, but the migrants have difficulty to make their living in their countries and the easiest way is that they have to leave for Russia. The Armenian migrants continue to have illegal status, the migrants’ rights are systematically violated, they are enslaved, but, “People get adapted to the corruption mechanisms that operate in Russia.” The lawyer does not think that this agreement will create favorable conditions for the Armenian migrants. “They will require arbitrary registration from the ordinary citizens. The Russian police or immigration services will not work based on the logic of the law; they have worked, work and will work based on the interests of corruption. When it comes to gain something, they will put forward requirements. Russia is not a rule of law state to give importance to legal documents. This agreement has political significance for relations with the authorities of Armenia. It is not for migrants, but for exerting pressure against weak authorities of Armenia. We have expectations that legal issues will be resolved. It is naive. Even Russia’s citizens are in disgraceful condition in terms of protection of rights, not to speak about the Kremlin to display humanitarian attitude to the citizens of other countries.”
Arpine SIMONYAN
