Moldova to sign agreement on cooperation in repatriating human trafficking victims with Russia

The Government of Moldova decided to initiate negotiations with the Russian Government over the signing of an agreement of cooperation in repatriating victims of trafficking in persons, children and migrants, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to Minister of Social Protection, Family and Child Valentina Buliga, the strategy on the prevention and combating of trafficking in human beings and illegal migration, based on the human rights and focused on the victim, is designed to guarantee the given persons' access to assistance from the authorities of their native countries. The protection authorities of Moldova and Russia, who aim to identify and support the victims and help them return to the native country, encounter difficulties as they have to observe the legislation on migration and citizenship of both of the countries. The problems faced during the repatriation missions revealed the necessity of formulating rules for coordinating the activities and the cooperation between the parties. These objectives will be achieved through the agency of the mentioned agreement that would be signed for an unlimited period of time. Valentina Buliga also said that 86 children have been repatriated as part of 30 missions since 2007 until present. Sixty of them were repatriated from Russia by 14 missions. There were also repatriated 196 adults, 27 of whom from Russia.