Putin invites Russians back from ex-Soviet states

MOSCOW, June 27 (Reuters) President Vladimir Putin approved a plan encouraging immigration of ''compatriots'' from ex-Soviet states as a remedy for catastrophic population decline.

According to official figures released yesterday, the number of Russians has shrunk by 11.2 million since 1993 because of high mortality and a low birth rate. If the trend continues, the population could fall from 143 million today to 100 million by mid-century.

''We are at a critical juncture,'' Putin, who has described the problem as a threat to national security, said last week.

Putin's decree, posted on the Kremlin Web site (www.kremlin.ru), authorised a state programme on ''assisting the voluntary immigration of compatriots living abroad'' and set up a state commission to oversee the process.

It offers cash and social benefits for those who come. But it gives only a vague definition of ''compatriots'', describing them as people ''brought up in the traditions of Russian culture ... who do not want to lose links with Russia''.

A Kremlin spokesman said that the plan embraced ''holders of Russian passports, Russian-speakers with dual citizenship or people who are planning to apply for Russian passports''.

That appears to refer to the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians in ex-Soviet republics, whose return has been a long-time goal of increasingly influential Russian nationalists.

It remains unclear whether the incentives would be extended to millions of non-Russians from ex-Soviet states, who form the bulk of the mainly illegal migrants working in Russia or planning to come.

Migrant workers from Central Asia, the Caucasus, Ukraine and Moldova have helped Russia to fill vacant jobs. But their presence has also contributed to growing ethnic tensions, and the number of racist attacks has rocketed.

Despite complaints by nationalists, who fear that the influx of migrants could destroy Russia's ethnic identity, Putin has backed steps to welcome more migrant workers.

Immigration is one of three main ways the Kremlin sees as capable of stopping the dramatic decline in the population, which translates into a weaker workforce and smaller army.

The other two are improving healthcare, crucial for a country where average life expectancy is only 64 years, and encouraging families to have more children.

Billions of dollars from oil revenues will be invested in health in the next few years. Putin last month unveiled a plan which offers cash perks for mothers who have two or more babies.

Reuters SY GC0902