Any Talk about Mobilization Boosts Number of Russian Emigres, ‘Ark’ Leader Says

Paul Goble

            Staunton, July 11 – A major reason why Vladimir Putin and his regime have avoided declaring a general mobilization is that even talk about that possibility of such an action has led to sharp upticks in the number of Russians emigrating at a time when the earlier flood is easing, Anastasiya Burakova says.

            The head of the Ark Project, the largest organization providing assistance to Russian emigres, says that after an initial surge after February 24, the number of Russians moving abroad has fallen except when rumors spread that there may be a general mobilization. When that happens, emigration jumps up again (rosbalt.ru/russia/2022/07/12/1966074.html).

            What that means is that unless the Kremlin imposes serious restrictions on the departure of Russians who want to leave, something that in itself would infuriate even many who don’t, the powers that be will do everything they can to avoid declaring a mobilization lest it exacerbate the brain drain coming out of Russia since Putin launched his war in Ukraine.