May 16, 2024

A New Wave of Emigration to Europe


A New Wave of Emigration to Europe
The flag of the European Union, seen in Karlskrona (Sweden). MPD01605, Wikimedia Commons

According to Eurostat data analyzed by the independent outlet Verstka, in 2023 at least 18,820 Russian citizens applied for asylum in European Union nations.

This surge in asylum requests surpasses figures from the last seven years. The previous high was 2016, when 22,930 Russian citizens sought asylum in EU countries. The increase in applications during that period was primarily attributed to refugees from Chechnya fleeing alleged repression.

Eurostat reported that Germany received the highest number of asylum applications: 7,655. France followed with 4,125 requests, while Spain ranked third, with 1,615. The spike in asylum applications in 2023 may be connected to the mass wave of emigration triggered by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and subsequent mobilization efforts and economic shifts. An estimated 800,000 persons departed Russia in 2022.

At the same time, approximately half of these emigrants were unable to acclimate to their new countries and returned to Russia, contributing significantly to the Russian economy, constituting between a fifth and a third of the total GDP in 2023. Sociologists Emil Kamalov and Ivetta Sergeeva suggest that this trend of repatriation will continue in the future, as only 41% of Russian emigrants perceive their situation in foreign countries as fully or partially stable, with a quarter reporting experiences of discrimination at the personal or institutional level.

However, factors such as new mobilization drives and increased repression could influence individuals' decisions to return to Russia.

You Might Also Like

Vlad the Long-Lived?
  • May 11, 2024

Vlad the Long-Lived?

"God forbid that the end of the century means the end of your stay in power," said Patriarch Kirill during Putin's May 7 inauguration.
Small Things Can Fix Everything
  • May 06, 2024

Small Things Can Fix Everything

From looking for a lost cat to gathering signatures for Boris Nadezhdin, Russians find hope in their communities. 
Returning Home to Kill
  • April 29, 2024

Returning Home to Kill

More than 100 persons have been killed by returning Russian soldiers since the beginning of Russia's War on Ukraine.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

Jews in Service to the Tsar
October 09, 2011

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955