In recent years, both Russian and European experts have conducted many studies on those who have left Russia, examining their communities with varying degrees of depth. The most prominent and indisputable conclusion drawn from the available analyses is the observation (though quite obvious) of a disparity between recent relocants and the average Russian, which is evident in their background, age, income, education, willingness for risk-taking and entrepreneurship, and values and habits.
We have previously discussed the most apparent features — gender and age. It bears repeating that, over the past decade, the emigrant community has become increasingly dominated by younger males. While there might be a temptation to attribute this trend to wartime circumstances and fears of mobilization, prompting primarily young men to flee, such assumptions remain unconfirmed. A study commissioned by CASE indicates that the deviation in this trend occurred immediately after 2013 and not in 2022 8. The relocants tend to be predominantly urban dwellers, originating in particular from cities with populations exceeding one million. Surveys, albeit potentially not fully representative, suggest that up to 70% of those leaving the Russian Federation originate from these cities, despite the fact that only 26% of the total Russian population live in such agglomerations. Additionally, at least half of the relocants had previously moved from one place to another within Russia, most often from smaller cities to larger ones or from regions such as Siberia, the Volga region and the Urals to the major cities of central Russia. These features indicate both a high degree of social and spatial mobility and adaptability, as well as a willingness to rely on one’s own capabilities and a long-term outlook in planning life strategies.
8 — Survey of Russian emigrants in European countries (Germany, France, Cyprus, Poland), op. cit.
Moreover, the Russian relocants differ from most of those who still live in the country in terms of their economic well-being and professional trajectories. Six months after relocation, no more than 5% of relocants reported facing financial hardship, with 40% still possessing savings.
In comparison, more than half of Russian citizens claim to have no savings at all, and only up to 12% could sustain themselves for up to a year living in their current conditions, without even reflecting on moving to another country. According to the study commissioned by CASE, the majority of relocants not only possess substantial financial reserves but also earn high incomes, well surpassing the standards of an average Russian. More than 60% of respondents reported monthly incomes exceeding €3,000, placing them within the upper middle class across all relocation destinations. Many departing Russians end up either as highly paid professionals in cutting-edge sectors — with 28% reporting employment in information technology and another 18% in financial institutions, universities, and scientific or expert organizations — or as self-employed individuals or owners of private enterprises. This trend is hardly surprising, given that over 81% of relocants hold higher-education degrees, including 10% with academic qualifications 9. In comparison, in Russia, only around 31% of adults possess higher education qualifications, with approximately 60% of them being women — a demographic noticeably underrepresented among emigrants. Therefore, when adjusted for gender distribution, the proportion of relocants with higher education is three times higher than the Russian average. An indirect affirmation of the significance of relocants to the domestic economy is the increasing shortage of skilled labor in Russia, a challenge recognized by most senior officials.
9 — Survey of Russian emigrants in European countries (Germany, France, Cyprus, Poland), op. cit.
The Russians who have left also differ in their value system from those who decided to stay. They are much less religious, aligning more with the general sentiments of Europeans; they find it much easier to engage in collective, volunteer and non-profit projects; they display significant empathy – including towards Ukrainians who have become victims of Russian aggression – and are more often inclined to respect other ethnic groups and cultures, as well as showing a willingness to learn the languages of their new countries of residence, regardless of how long they intend to stay there.
A crucial litmus test is their attitude towards Ukraine: among those who left after the onset of full-scale war, 64% of respondents support Ukraine in the ongoing conflict, compared to just over 40% among those who left Russia prior to 2013. Additionally, the latest relocants are twice as likely to express unequivocal support for Ukraine compared to people who have not lived in Russia for more than 10 years 10.
10 — Survey of Russian emigrants in European countries (Germany, France, Cyprus, Poland), op. cit.
In general, relocants are much more politicized than the earlier emigrants. Before 2013, the proportion of those who left the country for economic and personal reasons exceeded by approximately three times the share motivated by political developments and rejection of Putin’s aggressiveness. However, from 2014 to 2021, these groups turned out to be almost equal in numbers, and since 2022, the latter exceeds the former by more than 2.5 times 11. Appreciating the political freedoms championed by Western societies, relocants appear more tolerant of the new reality and are less likely to expect host societies to cater to their interests (almost 80% agree that any sovereign nation-state has the right to limit the number of immigrants it accepts) and are generally more prepared to integrate into them. Numerous studies indicate that friction between relocants and the local population is significantly lower than the level of mutual distrust, misunderstanding (and sometimes hostility) between people belonging to different waves of Russian emigration. However, it is essential to note that 56% of those who left before 2013 already enjoy European citizenship and cannot be assessed in the same light as new arrivals. This implies that the relocants from Russia are not only economically beneficial but also socially appropriate for European societies.
11 — Ibid.
Having fled dictatorship, Russians realize the real value of freedom; 80% of respondents believe that a successful society cannot be built without a democratic foundation and that people should not rely on the government but must earn the money they need to live through hard work, innovation and entrepreneurship. Atop of this, about 70% of the relocants are convinced that every people has the right to its own sovereign nation-state 12. Respect for others’ values and adherence to local legal regimes are points that some authors have repeatedly highlighted for the European audience.
12 — Ibid.