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Russia

Chechnya: Number of refugees in Ingushetia halves

The number of refugees living in Ingushetia halved in 2002 to make 66,000 people. Russian Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov said as much at an extended-format session of the Interior Ministry board summing up the Ministry's activities in 2002.
According to the Russian Foreign Minister, in 2002 more than 5,500 people volunteered to return to Chechnya from refugee camps in Ingushetia.

While commenting on Russia's migration policy on the whole, the Interior Minister said that last year "some stabilisation was achieved here." Moreover, he added, the number of people with a refugee status has dropped. (RIA Novosti)