On the 19th of September 2024 the Collective Action Brussels Think Tank (CABT) ran an online event with scholars and analysts presenting results of several studies of the last wave of Russian emigrants based currently in the European Union.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, between 800,000 and 1.3 million Russians, primarily educated, enterprising, and anti-war individuals, have fled. The exodus of educated, middle-class professionals from Russia has weakened the economic foundation of Putin's regime. Experts estimate that if European countries actively welcomed Russian anti-war professionals and facilitated the transfer of their capital and assets, potential capital flight from Russia could reach hundreds of billions of euros—surpassing even the economic impact of the most effective sanctions on Putin's regime. However, this is not happening. The integration of Russian migrants into European society has varied: while countries like Finland and the Baltics have closed their borders, Germany has welcomed dissidents with over 1,500 humanitarian visas.
The event explored how supporting these émigrés not only promotes democratic change in Russia and counters Moscow's malign influence but also offers economic and political benefits for Europe.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, between 800,000 and 1.3 million Russians, primarily educated, enterprising, and anti-war individuals, have fled. The exodus of educated, middle-class professionals from Russia has weakened the economic foundation of Putin's regime. Experts estimate that if European countries actively welcomed Russian anti-war professionals and facilitated the transfer of their capital and assets, potential capital flight from Russia could reach hundreds of billions of euros—surpassing even the economic impact of the most effective sanctions on Putin's regime. However, this is not happening. The integration of Russian migrants into European society has varied: while countries like Finland and the Baltics have closed their borders, Germany has welcomed dissidents with over 1,500 humanitarian visas.
The event explored how supporting these émigrés not only promotes democratic change in Russia and counters Moscow's malign influence but also offers economic and political benefits for Europe.
Summary briefing based on the experts’ presentations.
Speakers
Dmitry Gudkov, co-founder of CASE; a Russian opposition politician and former State Duma deputy
Kirill Shamiev, visiting fellow at ECFR.
Margarita Zavadskaya, senior research fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA)
Kirill Shamiev, visiting fellow at ECFR.
Margarita Zavadskaya, senior research fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA)
Related texts
Survey of Russian emigrants to Germany, France, Cyprus and Poland
Life in exile: A new approach to Russian democrats in Europe
The war-induced exodus from Russia
Russian Citizens in the EU Following the Russian Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine.
Life in exile: A new approach to Russian democrats in Europe
The war-induced exodus from Russia
Russian Citizens in the EU Following the Russian Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine.
This event is for
- EU staff
- policy experts
- policymakers
