Challenges Faced by Russian Immigrants in Armenia and Georgia: A Study

The Eastern European and International Research Center has published a report titled "Russians in the South Caucasus," based on surveys conducted among Russian immigrants in Armenia and Georgia. This was reported by Voice of America.

Since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, Georgia and Armenia have become preferred destinations for Russian immigrants relocating to the South Caucasus for permanent or temporary residence, as noted in the report by the Eastern European and International Research Center.

“Georgia has a land border with Russia, and it is easy to reach Armenia by air from Moscow or other locations. These countries have immigration policies that are very advantageous for Russians,” said George Sorokan, co-author of the report.

According to the report, the vast majority of immigrants come from major Russian cities such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg. “Notably, families are more inclined to immigrate to Georgia. In contrast, single individuals or those without children prefer Armenia,” Sorokan points out.

He claims that Armenia was a preferred immigration destination immediately after the outbreak of the war in March and April. In comparison, in Georgia, more people left after the partial mobilization announcement in late September and early October.

“I believe this is largely due to the sharp increase in airfare prices following the announcement of partial mobilization and, of course, the existence of a land border between Georgia and Russia,” says Sorokan.

According to the report, over half of the survey participants have not decided how long they have left Russia. This uncertainty, as another co-author Felix Kravateky notes, underscores the lack of clarity regarding their futures. The numbers of those considering Armenia and Georgia as permanent residences may change in the future due to various factors, such as a lack of financial resources, inability to relocate to another country, or difficulties obtaining a Schengen visa.

“In Armenia, 20% of them assert that they have left Russia for good, and it is possible they are tying their lives to Armenia. Meanwhile, that number is significantly lower in Georgia, which may suggest that they see Georgia as a transit country,” Kravateky claims in an interview with Voice of America.

In both countries, according to the report, immigrants have faced certain psychological and material difficulties, including challenges in finding housing or employment, during which they have encountered some degree of discrimination.

“In general, it is harder for foreigners to find a place to live. Nearly half of the Russians in Armenia reported that finding accommodation was a challenge. Meanwhile, in Georgia, that percentage is slightly lower... Another issue that may be linked to discrimination is the job market. In both countries, it was a challenge, as one in four respondents indicated having difficulty finding any kind of work. This, of course, does not reflect direct discrimination, but belonging to the local community is also somewhat significant for entering the labor market,” Kravateky explains.

According to the report, 27% of the respondents in Armenia believe they are no longer responsible for Russia's political future, while that figure in Georgia stands at 19%. The views of immigrants regarding Russian state institutions are predominantly negative, particularly in Armenia. Here, 66% of respondents rated the role of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky positively, whereas in Georgia, that number was 46%.

“In Armenia, 80% of the Russian respondents have a very negative opinion of the Russian president. These individuals have severed ties with Russian state institutions. Their trust in Russian state institutions is extremely low. In Georgia, this figure is slightly lower,” notes Kravateky.

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