The Putin period in Russia is associated with a mass exodus of highly skilled professionals from the country
As reported by Deutsche Welle, Atlantic Council expert Alina Polyakova cited official statistics: from 2000 to 2014 alone, between 1.5 and 1.8 million people left the country. She emphasized that people began leaving especially actively after the 2012 presidential elections, which were followed by a tightening of political restrictions.
Given Russia's demographic problems, the departure of such a large number of people poses a "serious threat to national security," Polyakova added. Since 1991, Russia has lost about 800,000 scientists. "These are people that the Russian economy needs," she stated. At the same time, Polyakova considers the mass brain drain a "threat number one" for Russia, because without them, the country will find it difficult to maintain its place on the world stage.
"Those who have emigrated in recent years can continue to help Russia," believes environmental activist Yevgenia Chirikova, who participated in organizing anti-government protests in Russia in 2011 and 2012 and now lives in Estonia. At the roundtable, she said that abroad she learned a lot about the work of civil movements and now wants to apply this knowledge in Russia.
Consultant at Rutgers University in New Jersey Sergei Erofeev is seriously concerned not only about the number of people leaving. He is particularly troubled by the fact that the most qualified specialists are leaving the country. One reason, according to the expert, is that Russian authorities underfund schools, universities, and scientific research. Therefore, he does not rule out a possible decline in the overall level of education in the country. In addition, Erofeev added, Russia often cannot offer highly qualified scientists jobs and salaries adequate to their level.
The current "brain drain" is very different from what happened during the Cold War – now Russians are not leaving their homeland forever. They often retain Russian citizenship and constantly monitor the situation at home, Erofeev reminded, adding that some are ready to return when things improve in the Russian economy.
Physicist and entrepreneur Mikhail Kokorich, who lives in California, holds the same view. In an interview with DW, he said that Russians living abroad and holding senior management positions often place orders with Russian firms or institutes. According to him, such people know both the West and Russia well and often travel to their homeland.
Many of his colleagues living in Russia are not opposed to emigrating, since it is easier to find investors for economic projects in the West. Western countries also benefit from transparent legislation and low levels of corruption.
Participants in the discussion organized by the Atlantic Council agreed that the main reason for the mass exodus from Russia is economic. As shown by the results of a survey conducted in May last year by the Moscow headhunting company "Agency Contact" among 467 top managers of Russian and international firms, every sixth participant intended to move to another country in the next two years. Most want to live in the USA, Germany, or the UK.
Some Russians want to change their country of residence for political reasons. Thus, Yevgenia Chirikova recalled the persecution that people engaged in political activities – whether opposition or NGOs – are subjected to in Russia. However, Mikhail Kokorich is not inclined to demonize Russian President Vladimir Putin and compare him to Soviet dictators. In his opinion, the current Russian government is not so bad. However, the businessman believes that more and more Russians understand that the situation in the country must change. At the latest, when Putin leaves the Kremlin.