SPECIFICS OF MIGRATION FROM RUSSIA TO EUROPEIN THE COURSE OF CRISIS: THE FLIGHT OF THE CREATIVE CLASS

Russian emigration has its own specifics related to the fact that for the general population a “crisis” is a part of a purely European phenomenon. The poorest part of the society is sure that Europe (European values related to human rights, market economy and liberal democracy) is failing, and this is manifested by the “crisis”. So for traditionally the most vulnerable and marginalized populations, migration seems pointless. However, the statistical analysis suggests that migration to Europe from Russia is well gathered after the presidential election. It is specifically predominant amongst the middle class. Russian migrants in Europe tend to already have higher education, higher-paying jobs, own their own homes and are used to quite a high level of material and cultural consumption. All of this the migrant is ready to leave for the sake of (sometimes illusory) prospects in Europe. Thus, the desire to leave Russia is expressed, and, increasingly, is undertaken by those who are the backbone of the Russian society. These are people who are sufficiently secure at home and their desire to emigrate is not related to any kind of financial distress. As it is shown in the quantitative analysis carried out by the author, current migration is related to political reasons - the lack of the freedom of speech and the overall inability to influence the political destiny of the country. This general conclusion was made based on extensive research which sought to determine the nature of the Russian migration to Europe. It is defined as representing a kind of “new wave of dissent”, caused primarily not due to economic distress, but rather, because of the political futility of the regime in the eyes of the middle class.

Как показывает статистический анализ, миграция в европейские страны из России в последние годы заметно растет, особенно после президентских выборов 2012 г. Ее специфика состоит в преобладании среди эмигрантов среднего класса - лиц, имеющих высшее образование, высокооплачиваемую работу, жилье, привыкших к достаточно высокому уровню материального и культурного потребления. Таким образом, их желание эмигрировать связано не с финансовым неблагополучием, а с отсутствием в стране свободы слова и возможности влиять на внутриполитическую ситуацию. Автор определяет характер российской миграции в Европу как своеобразную “новую волну диссидентства”, вызванную не столько экономическими причинами, сколько политической бесперспективностью правящего режима в глазах среднего класса.