Government to grant citizenship to Kazakh repatriates within one year

ASTANA. KAZINFORM - Today Kazakhstan Government has supported measures to encourage stay of ethnic Kazakhs (oralmans) in the country, this has been informed by Tamara Duissenova, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population at the briefing in Central Communications Service.

According to her words, many aspects of the Law "On migration" were revised and simplified. For example, earlier repatriates' resettlement area was determined by the Government. Oralmans who wanted to move to another location had to prove their payment-worthiness. At present oralmans may choose the area of settlement. In addition, ethnic Kazakhs can receive citizenship within one year. According to the Ministry of Labour, since 1991 Kazakhstan has received 944 thousand repatriates. Currently, they make up 5.5% of the total population. The main regions of settlement became South Kazakhstan (21.2%), Almaty (16%), Mangystau (12.9%) and Zhambyl (9.4%).