That is more than twice as many as in the same period last year, as reported by the RBC news agency on Tuesday night. This is the first time in recent Russian history that more people have emigrated than immigrated. The number of immigrants was 322,000 people. This means that around 96,000 more people have emigrated than have immigrated.
The statistics agency Rosstat did not provide any information on the nationality of the migrants. Russia has traditionally been a country of immigration for citizens of other former Soviet republics. This year, however, the migration movement went in the opposite direction. 369,000 left in this direction and only 295,000 entered. Almost 80,000 people chose Ukraine as their destination country.
In February, Russia launched a war of aggression against the neighboring country. This not only led to a refugee movement in Ukraine, but also to a wave of emigration in Russia itself. Political opponents went into exile, but many young specialists also left the country after Western companies withdrew from Russia – in search of better job opportunities . Larger Russian communities have since formed in Armenia and Georgia, among other places – because of the comparatively easy entry conditions. Overall, the Russian population fell by 480,000 in the first half of the year – also due to the natural decline in population.
Source: Nachrichten
