By Tehmineh Yenokyan

Recently, while riding in a city bus, the following conversation of two boys caught my ear.

Ara, don't you get it? They're giving out Russian citizenship for nothing. What are you waiting for? I've already got my documents together. Let's get the heck out of this forsaken country together.

The conversation caught the attention of the others in the bus as well, about 15 passengers. At once, they all started to drill the one boy with the question – will you tell us where to go?

You'd think they were talking about how to get to paradise or something, but it was just Russia's Migration Agency here in Armenia. I decided to check out the office as well. Customer service was top-notch; office staff were courteous and attentive.

Staffers at the office, located at 72 Manoushyan Street, take the time to listen to all applicants, reassuring them that by going to Russia a bright future awaits them.

To find out more, I sat in at one of the migration agencies seminars. I soon realized that the office needed no additional advertising. The person conducting the seminar confessed the same.

"We run no ads. People find out about us through word of mouth; via friends and family," he said, noting the example of the bus encounter. Nevertheless, I still asked why they didn't advertise

"There'd be no one left in Armenia if we advertised," he answered, adding that most come voluntarily.

"We do not force anyone to go. Those who do link their bright future only with a powerful country like Russia," said the seminar guy.

Participating in the program are 30 border districts in Russia and a number of selected cities in each. Those making the move are allowed to take their family and possessions with them, even the car, to the Russian city where they will work.

Their travel costs are paid and housing awaits them on the other end. Those relocating can also obtain permanent citizenship, employment, legal and health services and a nice sum of money.

What else does one need to maintain a family? I asked myself if the government of Armenia would ever be able to launch a similar campaign to attract Armenians overseas back home.

While at the office, I found out that some 50-60 Armenian citizens apply daily. They all have one aim in mind – to leave Armenia. If, as it says on the agency flyers, such a program is of vital strategic importance for Russia, populating its border regions with professionally prepared Armenians, then the natural question arises, what exactly is the benefit for Armenia? Why does official Yerevan allow such a government sponsored program to operate here?

Those leaving Armenia mince no words when they explain why – it's for their children's future. The only concern is making ends meet. Living ion an alien land, with all the unforeseen dangers this entails, is of no consequence to them.

A new twist to the program has been unearthed. If those leaving for Russia are granted even temporary residence, they are pressured to renounce their Armenian citizenship. Thus, it's safe to say that those leaving will never return.

Russia is investing huge sums to attract and keep the new "arrivals". Naturally, these Armenians won't be allowed to leave Russia; at least until they pay-back the funds invested in them by Moscow.

The bigger the family, the bigger the relocation sum received by each.

Sadly, the prospects that any will return to the motherland grow slimmer in proportion.