YEREVAN. – The remittances, which are sent to Armenia by individuals through the banking system, have dropped by US$500 million in 2015, as compared to the previous year, according to 168 Zham daily.

“Moreover, the remittances sent from the RF [i.e. the Russian Federation] have reduced to a greater extent—by 553 million dollars—and amounted to around 1 billion dollars. However, during the same period, the money sent [from Armenia] to Russia increased by 29.7 million dollars and amounted to 282.5 million dollars.

“The statistics of Armenia-Russia remittances may indicate that, in some cases, now the local compatriots [i.e. the residents of Armenia] are helping their relatives [in Russia], who are in a dire situation, with money. And it is becoming more likely that if this continues, a reverse flow of migrants—from Russia to Armenia—may start,” 168 Zham wrote.