Armenian employment migrants upset with Russian currency slump

Many Armenians work as employment migrants in the Russian Federation and the Russian Ruble’s depreciation is discouraging for Armenian employment migrants caused by the decline in the international oil prices.

Family budget of Armenians has been cut in half since 2014.

“My husband works in Russia, so our income is in the Ruble. While it traded for an exchange rate of 12 [Armenian] Drams in January exactly two years ago, today, banks purchase the Ruble for six Drams. So in the past two years, our family budget has been reduced twice

. And also, everything is now expensive both here, in Armenia, and in Russia. The money sent proves to be enough for just keeping body and soul together, especially now that it is winter, and we you have to pay for the local utilities more than, for example, a month ago,” Rima Sukiasyan, whose husband has been a regular employment migrant in Russia in the past 10 years claimed.

Norashen, a village in Gegharkunik, հas an estimated 30-40 residents known to be employment migrants.

But the village’s mayor, Garnik Gasparyan, says most are inclined to return, especially under the current conditions.

“Most of them come back somehow.

I think this one sentence of mine is enough for you to understand what the situation is like, especially now that the Ruble depreciated,” he told our correspondent.years claimed.