Ethnic Russians back home to fight population decline

Experts say, without serious measures Russia's population could fall by a third in the next half a century, and it's a problem most keenly felt in rural areas. But measures are being taken, among them providing incentives to bring ethnic Russians living a

They call themselves Dukhobory, a pacifist wing of Christianity that originated in Russia in the 18th century. For their reclusive lifestyle, anti-church and anti-government sentiments, Dukhobory were uprooted to populate the Caucasus.

Meanwhile, now hundreds of them are packing up as Russia wants them back.

Temporarily placed in a local dorm of the village of Snezhetok in Russia’s Tambov Region, they all are promised a house, some $US 2,000 startup money and Russian citizenship. In return they have to sign a contract that binds them to this area for two years.

They admit there's little left of their traditions and many are moving back to start afresh.

“We are Russians and we want to live among Russians, we want our children to go to a Russian school,” said Natalya Usupova, religious community settler.

The Usupov family are among the first to settle in Snezhetok, and the idea is to bring 2.5 thousand more.

The settlers have the free gas network and their children are expected to join the local school that previously had too few students to remain open.

Valentina Khokhlova, a migration service representative, says the Tambov Region is interested in attracting labour force.

“It's not a secret Russia’s demographic situation is deteriorating fast. The death rate is twice as high as the birth rate in the region and many of our workers leave for better jobs – this is why our region is interested in attracting additional labour force,” Khokhlova said.

Snezhetok’s once thriving agriculture is in decay. The hope is that the Dukhobory will work at the abandoned land and revive local trade.