“New wave of migration from
Islamic states: view from Russian
regions”
Alexander V. Koss
Dr. of Law, Immanuel Kant State University of Russia
(IKSUR)
Relevant studies on regional level on Migration in Kaliningrad
region
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•
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Tacis project INTERREG III A “New approach to the migration control
in the South-East Baltic: European context” (IKSUR - Russia, Gdansk
University, Klaipeda University). 2007-2008.
Tacis project “Developing Social Services for Vulnerable groups in
Russia” (Russian and French institutions). 2006-2007.
Cross-border migration and Home Society, Multiregional project, ISE
Center support. 2007.
Kaliningrad research Team:
Dr. Larisa Emelianova
Dr. Gennadiy Fyodorov
Dr. Alexander Koss
Kaliningrad region of Russia: characteristics
• Enclave region separated from other territory of Russia.
• Population – appr. 1 mln. people (Kaliningrad – 0,5 mln.)
• Ethnic dimension (2005): Russians – 80% (94% - with
Byelorussians and Ukrainians), 1,5% - Lithuanians, Muslims – 3%.
• Economics: Sea port, fishing industries, electronics, recreational
businesses.
• As for population and ethnic dimension – an ordinary Russian nonIslamic region
• As for economics – territory is characterized of sustainable growth
(about 9%, Russia – about 7%)
• Region is needed in migrants (demographical and economical
reasons)
The Muslim population is increasing
• 1990 – 0,5% of total population
• 2000 – 2%
• 2005 – 3%
2006-2007 The Muslim population has increased appr. +0,5%*
The main source of increasing is migration.
Most of new Muslim migrants are Uzbeks.
* Data of Tacis project INTERREG III
Official Statistic data do not show the ethnic dimension in migration
processes on regional level. Most of ethnic migrants represent
themselves as “Russian” in interviews with officials
1995
• Russians 27386 Ukrainians3594 Belorussians2185 Armenians 930
Germans848 Tatars486 Lithuanians392 Azerbaijanians212 Poles184
Mordvinians143 Chuvashes142 Moldavians82 Jews 79 Kazakhs34
Letts32
2004
• Russians 8627 Ukrainians 475Germans 301Belorussians 271Armenians
128Tatars 126Lithuanians 76Poles 34Azerbaijanians 29Chechens
22Georgians 21Mordvinians 20Kazakhs 19Bashkirs 19Jews
2006
• Russians 7698 Ukrainians 426Germans 239Belorussians 210Armenians
170Tatars 95Azerbaijanians 56Lithuanians 49Uzbeks 44 Kazakhs
27Koreans 27Poles 27Moldavians 19*18Mordvinians 17 Jews 19
* Data of Federal migration service in Kaliningrad region
About 70% of labour migrants are young Muslims from Islamic
states
•
The number of the given working permissions as it was ordered by the
employers in the year 2007 (data of Federal migration service in Kaliningrad)
The number of the given working permissions as it was ordered
by the employers in the year 2007
Two waves of Migration in Russian non-Islamic regions
(characteristics)
1st wave, 1992-2005
Post-soviet migration
2nd Wave, 2006-?
New wave
States
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Ukraine, Tajikistan, Armenia
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan
Rural areas
Ethnicity
Russians, Armenians
Uzbeks, Tajiks (Islamic states)
Language
Russian-speakers
Weak knowledge of Russian
Age and Gender
All ages
Young men (≤30), mostly men
Qualification and
education
Different qualifications and
education
Non-qualified workers, basic or
secondary school education
Reason of migration
Forced migration, compatriots
(motherland – Russia or
USSR), reunion of families
Economic problems,
unemployment, demography
Aim of migration
Integration, Citizenship
Permanent job, permanent
residence
Religion
Christians, weak influence
Islam, strong influence
Prospects of Integration
Strong (0-3 years)
Weak (?)
Portrait of young Muslim migrant coming for legal aid
(according to practice of Office of Kaliningrad Ombudsman and
some advocacy institutions in 2007)
Man,
Uzbek,
20-25 years old,
Weak knowledge of Russian,
Basic school education,
From rural areas,
Occupation – non-qualified construction worker
Religion – strong influence, becoming weaker from year-to-year of his
living in Russia
Problems – legalization, acquiring of residence permission, working
permission.
Often they have representatives – they are not professional lawyers,
they are often their old relatives or group leaders
New Wave of Migration from Islamic states: Problems
and Challenges
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The Home society in non-Islamic Russian regions is not prepared for
the new wave of migration. Elites and ordinary people have traditional
vision of migrants as compatriots but not people of different language
and culture. They are not ready to live in “mixed society”. (For
example, Kaliningrad has not Mosque).
New migrants are not ready for integration in regional societies
because of their background. We can suggest that they (and their
young families) will face a task of integration in 3-5 years. How to deal
with this task without relevant education and institutions?
Home society and new migrants and their groups are not in dialog
about the problems of Integration, legalization, social services etc.
In conclusion, the main task for state regional migration policy for the
next years is to focus on issues of the new wave of migration, to
represent new standards of such policy according to new
circumstances, to establish “policy of integration” for new migrants
on regional and local level.
The END