Armenia – Russia Migration

Tadevosyan GurgeVardanyan Liliana

Bejhanyan AlexandraHarutyunyan Khosrov

Nowadays emigration from Armenia is the highest in the country’s history. The

main host of emigrants is Russia. Emigration here has both types –

voluntary and forced.

Introduction

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

In 18th century nearly 5000 Armenians immigrated to south Caucasus due to hard lifestyle in Persian and Ottoman empires. It was the first time such an amount of Armenians migrated to Russia. After Russian annexation of Armenian Gubernia all Armenians living in their motherland, became Armenians living in Russia.

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Historical Context

Next huge migration was from 1890-1922. Due to Armenian Genocide more than 100.000 Armenians emigrated to Russia. The main points were Rostov-on Don, Moscow, Saint Petersburg etc.

Again, many Armenians emigrated from 1988-1990’s. The cause of this migrations were earthquake in Spitak and Nagorno-Karabakh war.

All that points are examples of forced migration, but nowadays Armenians are migrating voluntary.

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Push Factors

Causes of Voluntary Migrations:As a post-Soviet country, Armenia has encountered many economic problems, and many of that problems hasn’t been overcame even nowadays. First of all is a problem of workplaces. More than 30% of Armenians are unemployed. Secondly, there’s a problem of income. The average monthly salary in Armenia in February 2013 was 139,331 drams an equivalent of $342.

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Push Factors

Causes of Forced MigrationIn last 2 decades there were far enough causes to bring to huge emigration from the country. First was earthquake of Spitak, which destroyed north of the country. Few years after that disasters Soviet Union broke down. Whole industry of Armenia was connected with other Soviet countries, her industry hasn’t recovered until now. But it wasn’t enough. War between NKR and Azerbaijan started after break down of USSR in 1990. All that circumstances caused huge amount of emigrants.

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Push Factors

Brain drain is an actual problem for Armenia The Eurasian Development Bank study showed that Armenia is the second state among migrants with higher vocational training, preceded by Estonia and followed by Latvia and Lithuania. This leads not only to quantitative but also to a qualitative change of Armenian society.

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Possible Destinations

Armenians are trying to find better place to live, to have at least average paid job, and be sure for the future. That’s why they are choosing MEDC’s. But also there is a big amount of labor forces, which consider to go somewhere, where they can work in the “Grey Market” without being caught by police, so in this case, Russia is the best destination.

CHALLENGES FACED ON JOURNEY BY MIGRANTS:

The only challenge is cost of transportation. There is a regular flights from Yerevan and Gyumri to Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, St. Petersburg, Minvodi, and other Russian cities. Also there are touristic buses, which do their job very good.

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Pull Factors• Russia is the main former USSR country,

and it is in transition stage too, so getting citizenship of that country for Armenians is very easy. Also there isn’t visa barrier between countries.

• Average income in Armenia is $342, meanwhile in Russia it is equal to $688.

• Also there are more workplaces in Russia.

• Many Armenians migrate to Russia for marriage.

• In the most cases, migrants have many relatives is Russia, especially in a city they migrate.

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Challenges in new Home

As formers Soviet Union citizens, there are not so much problems for Armenians in Russia. 1. Ethnic discrimination ocures sometimes2. Language Barrier ( Rare cases )

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Data: Survey

Do You Have Relatives in Russia?

88%

12%

Yes No

Data:Survey

Would You Like to Live in Russia?

36%

64%

Yes No

Push Factors

38%

25%

13%

8%

8%

4%4% Worklace

Low Income

My Bokhk isn't Grow-ing Here

This isn't a Country

Ecological Problems

Everything

I dislike Community

30%

25%15%

10%

10%

5%5%

Language

Workplace

Russian Girls

Income

Education

Tivilizrov Tesa, asi ese pordzem, indz inje ile vor

My Bokhk is Growing There

Pull Factors

Age ratio of Emigrants

15%

65%

20% -18

18-45

45+

Emigrants from Rural and Urban Areas

45%

55%

Rural

Urban

Personal remittances, received (% of GDP PC)

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 20130

5

10

15

20

25

Conclusion

• Russia is one of the most suitable destination for Armenian emigrants. No visa barrier, regular flights and buses to the main cities of Russia, and absence of language barrier makes it the easiest destination

• Workplace and Income are main push factors

Sources

• A.Melkonyan, P.Chobanyan. “History of Armenia”. Yerevan:Zangak Print 2010

• “News.am” Online News. “Armenia is facing brain drain - first Ombudsman” Web 17.06.2013

Armenia is facing brain drain - first Ombudsman• Gugo’s Brains All Rights reserved. Anania Shirakatsy Lycee ©

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