Fewer Russians looking to emigrate now than in 1991

As reported by the Moscow Times, the number of Russians who wish to emigrate has fallen by half since 2011, with lower rates than during the Soviet Union’s final days, reveals a new poll.

Nearly 11% of all respondents said they would want to emigrate, indicating a significant fall since June, when 22% admitted wanting to move overseas. In 1991, as the Soviet Union was on its deathbed, about 16% admitted wanting to emigrate.

Before the March 4 presidential race, many speculated that a win by Vladimir Putin could cause emigration rates to soar. But Svetlana Gannushkina, who works for Memorial’s migrant rights division, explained that the findings revealed what drove the anti-Putin street demonstrations.

As those on the opposition now see themselves as stakeholders in the nation’s future, they now have a reason to remain in Russia, she said. People have started to feel that they are not alone, that something must be done, she added.

VTsIOM discovered that the most likely expats would be young people, with 25% of those aged 18-24 saying they wish to leave Russia, a fall from 39% in the June poll. The new poll found that 19% of active web users and 25% of supporters of ex presidential hopeful Mikhail Prokhorov also expressed their wish to leave.