Oralmans might retain status after citizenship

    By Gulmira Kamziyeva
    Legislation proposed in the Majilis could allow Oralmans to retain their housing rights regardless of whether they accept Kazakhstani citizenship, BNews.kz reported.
    Oralmans are members of the ethnic Kazakh diaspora who immigrated to Kazakhstan.
    Presently, Oralmans who want housing find themselves in a bind, said Beimbet Usipbek, an Astana migration police specialist on ethnic migration and work with refugees.
    They may apply for housing as Oralmans but are not allowed to remain in indefinite stateless limbo waiting for housing, he said. Once they receive citizenship, they immediately lose Oralman status, meaning they are removed from that list of housing candidates, he said.
    Kazakhstani officials also plan to create an inter-departmental commission on Oralman affairs to co-ordinate the actions of various cities in solving social problems. About 1m Oralmans have resettled in Kazakhstan since independence in 1991.