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Putin to take part in World Congress of Russian Compatriots living abroad

The Congress’ mission is to consolidate compatriots, to protect their rights and legal interests, to strengthen ties with motherland, to preserve cultural heritage and the Russian language abroad

MOSCOW, November 5. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday will attend the fifth World Congress of Russian Compatriots living abroad, the Kremlin press service said.

The Congress’ mission is to consolidate Russian compatriots, to protect their rights and legal interests, to strengthen their ties with historic motherland, to preserve cultural heritage and the Russian language abroad. The Congress is expected to be attended by about 400 delegates representing Russian communities from 97 world nations.

The fourth World Congress of Russian Compatriots was held in St. Petersburg in late October 2012. It was attended by representatives of Russian communities from 94 countries.

Addressing the fourth Congress, Putin said Moscow was set to promote consolidation of Russian communities abroad and offer all-round support to Russian compatriots living in foreign countries.

Russia is currently implementing a state program to encourage Russians to move to live in Russia from abroad. In 2014, according to the Federal Migration Service, a total of 106,000 compatriots returned to Russia from abroad. In all, over the three years since program’s adoption in 2012, more than 290,000 people returned to Russia.

In 2016-2017, the Russian government plans to allocate 400 million roubles (6.32 million U.S. dollars) to finance this program.

The Russian diaspora of about 30 million people is among the world’s four biggest ones.