Authors : Sergey Ryazantsev, Elena Pismennaya, Vera Skorobogatova and Tamara Rostovskaya
Abstract: The study analyzes trends and focuses of migration from Ukraine before and after the armed conflict of 2014-2015. Traditionally Russia is one of the main focuses of Ukrainians migration. For the recent years, in Russia there are a lot of disputes about the need for the migration policy intervention towards a selective approach. Experts and government servants declare the need for the involvement of highly qualified experts and ethnically close to the Russian population immigrants to Russia. Ukrainian migration stays within this idea. Most immigrants from this country are fluent in Russian have professional experience close to the Russian conditions and are ready to live and work in Russia, want to be Russian citizens. From these considerations, the Russian migration policy would have to give a "green light" to Ukrainian citizens. Indeed, after the outbreak of hostilities in the east of Ukraine and the flow of refugees to Russia many government agencies have opened some "doors" for Ukrainian citizens. Some approval document granting procedures were greatly simplified and the time periods for staying in Russia were extended. The Ukrainian diploma recognition procedures were also simplified that had a beneficial effect on Ukrainian migrants adaptation in the Russian labor market. The Russian migration policy of "the open doors" by the end of 2015 has just turned back the tide of procedure tightening against Ukrainian citizens. The project of reception of Ukrainian migrants is winded down. It is difficult to earn the status of a participant in the state-run program of resettlement to Russia, to get a part-time residence permit, registration certificate, to obtain citizenship, approval documents for job. On 1 November 2015 the preferred treatment for Ukrainian citizens for staying within Russia was revoked. Ukrainian citizens who stay within the Russian Federation until the end of the November should appeal to the department units to legalize their presence. Those who will not do it for a month will be deported. Unfortunately, this fact confirms that the Russian migration policy is still far cry from conceptual understanding the need for priority reception of Ukrainian migrants as an important labor and demographic resource for the development of Russia. Of course, Russia should review its migration policy as to Ukrainian citizens and using the current geopolitical situation, attract them as many as possible to its regions.
Sergey Ryazantsev, Elena Pismennaya, Vera Skorobogatova and Tamara Rostovskaya, 2016. Peculiarities of Ukrainian Migrant’s Adaptation in the Context of the Migration Policy of the Russian Federation. The Social Sciences, 11: 5648-5652.