The head of Armenia’s State Migration Service Gagik Yeganyan denied growing emigration rate in Armenia at July 29 news conference in Yerevan.

“We don’t claim the absolute absence of migration in Armenia, yet confirm no upsurge was reported over the last 2 years,” the official explained.

In this connection, Yeganyan urged media to specify the source of their reports in presenting the situation. According to the official, migration –related data should be reflected in passenger transportation rate, which is not too high, especially considering that not every passenger is a migrant. As he noted, the number of those leaving the country fell from 60000 to 30000 during the global crisis, which is explained by the absence of jobs in Russia, where the major part of Armenian migrants go. “With activation of economy, the migration rate is returning to data reported in 2007,” Yeganyan noted.

According to Migration Service data, over 23000 left Armenia in 2008, 25000 in 2009, 30000 in 2010. In the fist halfyear of 2011 the figure comprised 67000.