DUSHANBE, September 19, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- The city of Tursunzoda (western Tajikistan) has received the bodies of 100 of its citizens from Russia in January-August this year, Ms. Lubatoy Azimova, a lawyer with Tursunzoda mayor’s office, announced at a meeting of the Council for Legal Activity and Raising Legal Awareness of Citizens on September 18.

It is a considerable figure if to take into account that the bodies of 643 Tajik citizens were returned to the country from Russia over the report period. 

By mayor’s order Council for Legal Activity and Raising Legal Awareness of Citizens has functioned in the city since 2010.  The council meets once a quarter to discuss ongoing issues.  The September 18 meeting was dedicated to the problems of internal and external migration.

In 2007-2008, 1,000 families from Khatlon province were relocated to Tursunzoda under the internal migration program.

Ms. Azimova noted that citizens leaving the county in search of better employment did not apply to the public institutions for legal aid.  “Mostly non-governmental organizations are engaged in raising legal awareness of labor migrants in accordance with various programs financed by international organization,” said she.  “There are no such programs in Tursunzoda.”