In the quiet street of Khujand stretching along the right bank of the Syr-Darya there is a fine building - the General Consulate of the Russian Federation in Khujand. We can be proud of its being the first and the only consulate opened by Russia in Central Asia in 1994. Recently there has been appointed the new General Consul in Khujand, the fourth one for the period of its existence; his name is Alexander Kryshko. Our correspondent had a talk with him about the goals the Consulate pursues today and his impressions about Sughdian land.
- Alexander Ivanovich, what do You hold in view in regard to further collaboration between Sughd viloyat and the regions of the Russian Federation?
A.K. To my mind, Sughd viloyat, is extraordinary rich with mineral resources and, the main thing, - with people’s resources and rather talented hereby. I see that the relations between Sughd viloyat and the regions of Russia don’t begin at a zero mark. Since the times of the Soviet Union the economy ties of the viloyat with Russia were very brisk. With gaining independence great changes took place in our countries. Some ties were lost, but others were adjusted.
For a short time of my work here I saw that many entrepreneurs and leaders of enterprises have been making endeavors for establishing new contacts and restoring the old ones; certain progresses being perceived in this scope. At any rate, the interest in Sughd viloyat on the part of Russia is great. It is displayed by Ural, Siberia, Central region. The produce put out in Sughd viloyat enjoys great demands in these areas. In particular, Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov appreciated the products of tannery-cannery industry.
- What are Your impressions about our land, its people?
A.K. I know the Tajik people since long times as a vigorous, industrious and talented folk. Thousands of Tajiks are working in Russia at present, they work very well putting their soul in what they do. To a certain extent it supports them materially. Those acquaintances I have acquired here confirmed my opinion about the Tajik people, it is kind, cordial, responsive, prompt to help. I am aware of the splendid family traditions existing in the Tajik society when old people are not left without care and attention on the part of youngsters. Ancient Khujand is beautiful as well.
- Your predecessor I. I. Dolgy stated at one of the meetings in Panjakent that since July 1. 2003 the entry to Russian Federation will be allowed only provided you have a foreign passport. Is it so?
A. K. This provision relates only to those CIS countries with which Russia has no agreements on visaless regime. As for Tajikistan, it has such agreement with Russia, so, there will be no changes in this respect. Only to the issue of the validation of the law “On Legal Status of Foreigners in RF” every non-resident, a citizen of Tajikistan, in particular, on entering Russia is to fill in a migrational chart which will afford to regulate a statistical registration in this scope.
One more advice of mine for Sughd viloyat inhabitants going to Russia. Don’t acquire migrational charts which have already appeared here. On entering Russia you will have them free of charge at frontier posts, just there you will fill them in. one half remains with you, another will be kept at the frontier unit.

- Will the issues concerned with laboring migration of Tajikistan citizens to Russia be solved on the intergovernmental level?
A. K. In order to regulate laboring migration from Tajikistan to Russia, to advocate the rights of rank-and-file migrants frequently violated by employers a special agreement is being prepared between Russia and Tajikistan. It is almost ready, as the president of Russia Vladimir Putin declared during his visit to Dushanbe, it is bound to be signed in the nearest time.
What is the essence of this agreement? Laboring migration will be regulated. Every concrete person who is willing to work in Russia will be included into a certain list, he will know in advance where, to whom and on what terms he will be directed. On entering Russia he will fill in a migrational chart. After that he receives a special document providing his peaceful job, he may not be afraid of his rights being violated.
- Who can be granted Russian citizenship for today and what about the rules of getting a foreign passport of RF in the General Consulate? Have the latters changed?
A. K. The procedure related with a foreign passport hasn’t changed. In the General Consulate there is a big data base dealing with those who got Russian citizenship, so this procedure is not too complicated.
Now in reference to Russian citizenship. For today there are two categories of potential receptors. These are children up to 14 years of age and those aged in the range of 14-18 if one of the parents is a citizen of the Russian Federation.
- Can Sughd viloyat residents address You if they are going to search their relatives who left for Russia and are missing a long time without letting know anything about themselves?
A. K. Of course, they can and such applications enter our Consulate. They are coming constantly. People address us not only on the issues of citizenship and passport, they also try to find their missing relatives with our help. We rendered and render assistance in such matters.
- What else would You like to say to our readers?
A. K. I would like to bring to the notice of our readers the following things. The level of interrelations between countries opening such institutions as ours is an indicator of not only an objective need in a solution of diverse questions and specific problems, but what is more important - an indicator of the whole scope of human relations framing between the peoples. The General Consulate in Khujand was opened in 1994, and one must say especially that during all those years our employees have been perceiving permanent attention, solicitude, sincerity and promptitude for large-scale collaboration between Russia and Tajikistan on the part of viloyat administration, urban and district Hukumats, population. And it is no wonder taking into consideration our friendly, even fraternal relations, our readiness to help each other in hard times being obvious in the course of decades in the epoch of the Soviet Union in more ancient times, and now being sovereign states we support these old traditions. The striking example of this mutual aid was the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 whose 58-th anniversary our countries have celebrated recently. Today it is a joint struggle with new threats and challenges coming from the international terrorism, narcobusiness, etc.
A month has passed since my arrival in ancient Khujand. In comparison with the aged history of Khujand it is a drop in the ocean of time. For this period I tried to better know the life of people, I took part in a series of business and holiday arrangements.
It stands to reason that our joint acquaintanceship and work will be continued, I hope they will be productive, useful and efficacious in the aspect of mutual interests of our two countries.
In this plane I would like to reckon for the help and support of MM being grateful to you in advance.
- What would You like to wish Sughd viloyat citizens?
A.K. I wish peace, benefit, health and efflorescence to all of them.
- Great thanks for the interview.