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Govt commission to discuss legal position of Russians abroad

The commission is also expected to discuss a biased US court verdict against Viktor Bout, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison

MOSCOW, April 9 (Itar-Tass) —— The governmental commission for the affairs of Russian compatriots will discuss the legal status of Russians abroad and the status of the Russian language at its meeting here on Monday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will chair the meeting.

The governmental commission will analyze the status of the Russian language, primarily in the neighbouring countries. This problem is particularly acute in the Baltic States, but local residents prefer to ignore it that leads to a deadlock.

In this respect, international standards and conventions should be used broader. Russia urged more than once the European Union to consider finally the situation of the Russian speakers in the Baltic States.

The commission is also expected to discuss a biased US court verdict against Viktor Bout, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Since January 1, 2012 the Foundation for Support and Protection of Rights of Compatriots Living Abroad operates in Russia. Sergei Lavrov chairs the Trustee Board of the foundation. The foundation is primarily seeking to provide conditions, “under which Russian compatriots will enjoy fully the rights of citizens in those countries, where they live.” However, it is clear that the Bout case is unique, because he was brought to the United States by force and illegally. Lavrov will report on the work to change the procedure for children of Russian compatriots living abroad to get Russian citizenship.

“Now we are working on the introduction of several amendments in the Russian citizenship law. The amendments will cancel the requirement to get the consent from a parent, who is a foreign citizen, for a minor to get Russian citizenship, if the family lives abroad,” he said earlier. “Now we continue the debates over the bill in Russian agencies concerned,” Lavrov added.

The governmental commission will also discuss the plan of events for the VE-Day celebrations in foreign countries and the implementation of the program for the resettlement of Russian compatriots.

The governmental program on the work with Russian compatriots is being implemented for 2012-2014. The program envisages the allocation of more than one billion roubles in order to help preserve Russian ethno-cultural space abroad, humanitarian aid and support to young people.

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