Migration from Russia еo Kyrgyzstan: A Sociological Study

The article is devoted to the consideration of the key provisions and ideas of the collective monograph "Migration from Russia to Kyrgyzstan: demographic and sociological aspects", the publication of which was very timely, since migration is a phenomenon that is becoming increasingly relevant on a global scale every year. In the context of globalization and political changes, migration policy remains a subject of active discussion, both in the academic community and in the media. In turn, these debates often cover a wide range of issues - from the rights of migrants to the economic consequences of migration. The collective monograph under review uses a large array of express surveys and interviews with labor migrants in 2022-2023. These studies were carried out in the course of the scientific project "Return Migration and Emigration from Russia to Kyrgyzstan" (headed by G. I. Osadchaya). The monograph provides a number of important introductory provisions that set, first of all, the general direction of the work itself. The authors of the monograph analyze theories of return migration and theories of emigration. They pay special attention to the role of social capital, interaction with the host population and the real everyday life that Russian emigrants find themselves in in Kyrgyzstan. In particular, they found that the overwhelming majority of informants, while in the Kyrgyz Republic, maintain stable contacts with their friends and relatives in Russia. They use all kinds of information sources, such as Telegram channels, social networks, YouTube, Twitter or foreign media. According to the results of sociological research, the team of authors claims that the emigration of Russians to Kyrgyzstan is characterized by speed, spontaneity and ease of entry. This is due to the fact that the Kyrgyz Republic does not require visas for citizens of the Russian Federation due to close cultural and economic ties between the two countries, as well as due to the presence of acquaintances or friends and people's love for the city of Bishkek. Among the emigrants, men aged 18 to 42 prevail, which is interpreted as a desire to avoid participation in the military conflict with Ukraine. It was further established that return migration from Russia to Kyrgyzstan is voluntary and spontaneous. From the Russian Federation, labor migrants primarily expect institutional support, which is expressed mainly in the preparation of registration documents, provision of social insurance, creation of favorable conditions for their full adaptation and self-disclosure as an individual. The publication of the scientific monograph under consideration provides a lot of various interesting judgments for further reflection and continuation of work in this vein. It is worth adding that the target audience of such a work is primarily students, graduate students, postgraduates, representatives of science and specialists studying the theory and sociology of migration. In other words, the reviewed monograph will be useful for specialists in the fields of sociology, economics and political science, as well as for anyone interested in issues of emigration and migration processes.

demographic policy, demographic and sociological aspects, Institute for Demographic Research FCTAS RAS, Kyrgyzstan, migration, Russia, socio-economic problems