On December 19-20, 2011 within the EU project «Support to Implementation of the EU Readmission Agreements with the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation and Ukraine: Facilitation of Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration» (SIREADA) implemented jointly by IOM Moscow and the FMS of Russia, a training workshop for personnel of the FMS of Russia special institutions for accommodation of persons subject to readmission was conducted.

Participants in the training workshop included the personnel from the FMS Russia Citizenship Department, personnel of the regional offices of the FMS from St. Petersburg, Pskov, and also personnel from Pskov Center for accommodation of persons subject to readmission.

Mr. Marek Osetek – expert from Poland, Director of Migrant Accommodation Center in Przemysl (Poland) with great practical experience in this area, and expert–psychologist were invited as trainers.

The main aim of the training was theoretical and practical preparation of personnel from Pskov Center for accommodation of persons subject to readmission and also personnel of the regional offices of the FMS in the corresponding regions of the Russian Federation to receiving and working with third country nationals and stateless persons which are transferred to the Russian Federation in accordance with entered into force on 1 June 2010 the third country nationals and stateless persons’ clause of the EC-RF Readmission Agreement.

During the training the following topics were covered:
• Experience in organizational management of Migrant Accommodation Center in Przemysl (Poland).
• Rights and obligations of foreigners and its implementation.
• Cultural and post migration shock.
• Culture of foreigners and its meaning in internecine relationships and in contacts with the staff of the centre.
• Religion and its meaning in management of foreigners.
• Meals – its meaning in the centre for migrants.
• Body language – its meaning in relationships between foreigner and staff.
• Relationships between staff and their perception by foreigners.
• Constructive communication skills.

Thus, the participants of the training could not only improve their knowledge of legal relations «foreigner – staff of readmission center», but also learn a number of psychological techniques which can help improve relationships between staff of centers and, as a consequence, can help make work with migrants more organized and efficient.