Russian-Speaking Population in Far-Abroad Countries

Abstract

Attracting compatriots living abroad is strategically vital in the context of continuing depopulation in Russia. However, a multilayered definition of the category of a compatriot creates blurred boundaries. As a result, it is somewhat problematic to assess the number of Russian compatriots living abroad objectively. The paper presents the results of a study of the socio-demographic structure of the Russian-speaking population in far-abroad countries. The statistical data of Rosstat, the UN, Eurostat, OECD, and national statistical services of foreign countries were analyzed to assess the number of Russian-speaking populations and determine the main emigration channels and geography of resettlement. Within the study, the authors have conducted an expert survey of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Embassies of the Russian Federation, and representative offices of Rossotrudnichestvo in foreign countries. The survey results indicate the heterogeneous structure of Russian-speaking communities by reasons of emigration, socio-economic status, degree of integration into the host society, gender, and ethnic composition, and geography of resettlement. However, state policy analysis towards compatriots shows that it targets people who already demonstrate an interest in Russia, participate in Russian-speaking organizations, and get involved in cultural, religious, and sports events. There is a need for cooperation and interaction with Russian-speaking people. Moreover, given that young people adapt and get integrated more efficiently, it is essential to prevent the loss of cultural capital of Russian-speaking youth living abroad. It is necessary to develop and implement a more differentiated approach towards interaction with the Russian-speaking population.

The Changing Landscape of Russia's Emigration from 1990 to 2020: Trends and Determinants

“…Therefore, some of the emigrants are included in the official Russian statistics. According to the research conducted, foreign sources more accurately reflect the scale of Russian emigration (Aleshkovski et al 2018;Chudinovskikh and Stepanova 2020;Denisenko 2003Denisenko , 2013Ryazantsev et al 2021;Vorobyeva, Grebenyuk 2016). Our comparison of Rosstat data with the OECD and UN data on the number of Russian immigrants in the main destination countries reveals an underestimation of the intensity of emigration from Russia.…”

“…2) intellectual migration (the 'brain circulation' becomes predominant, when Russian scientists work abroad for a certain period of time, mainly doing experimental work on advanced equipment); 3) forced migration (in the 2000s, several thousand Russian citizens applied for asylum abroad every year); 4) educational migration (the growth of the population's income and globalization contributed to the increase in the scale of educational emigration, there is a tendency for an increase in the number of students who did not return to Russia after completing their studies abroad); 5) marriage emigration of women (5,000-6,000 Russian women are estimated to have annually emigrated abroad with the purpose to marry, whereas the importance of economic factors of marriage emigration decreased, the main urge for Russian women to marry abroad was caused by a crisis of the Russian family model); 6) business emigration (a stratum of wealthy emigrants was formed by those who had made a fortune in the 1990s, the emigration being accompanied by the export of capital); 7) emigration of children through international adoption (in 2000-2011, almost 66,000 Russian children were adopted by foreigners); 8) family reunification (an increase in the communities of Russian immigrants in foreign countries facilitated the process of moving and settling for new emigrants) (Aleshkovski et al 2018;Denisenko 2013;Mukomel 2005;Potapova 2017;Ryazantsev 2015Ryazantsev , 2016Ryazantsev and Khramova 2018;Riazantsev et al 2018;Ryazantsev et al 2021;Savoskul 2016;Vorobyeva and Grebenuk 2016).…”

“…The largest number of those who left Russia began to be recorded in labor-exporting countries (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Ukraine, China, North Korea, etc.). In this regard, in order to assess the real scale of Russian emigration, it becomes necessary to single out only Russian citizens in the total number of those who left Ryazantsev et al 2021;Chudinovskikh and Stepanova 2020).…”