MOSCOW, 6 March. /TASS/. The Russian Public Chamber has suggested that refugees from the south-east of Ukraine should be charged no fees for comprehensive Russian language tests, the press service of the Public Chamber said Friday.
The Russian law which came into force on January 1, 2015 obliges all migrants, who have asked for permission to work in Russia, to pass a Russian language test, take an examination in the fundamentals of Russia law and history so as to get a test confirmation certificate which is worth 4,900 rubles for a job applicant and 5,300 rubles for an applicant who asks for a residence permit in Russia.
"Refugees from Ukraine ought to exempt from such fees altogether. I believe it is wrong to ask money from people who have fled the war and want to start life anew in Russia. One should not overlook the fact that many of the refugees have lost their homes and property. I am confident that there will be no objections from our citizens," the press service of the Public Chamber quoted Yelena Sutormina as saying. Sutormina heads a commission of the Public Chamber on the development of public diplomacy and support for compatriots abroad.
"In a short while the commission of the Public Chamber will forward its proposal to the related bodies of power for approval," she said.