Intensifying Water Shortages in Central Asia will Spark Flood of Immigrants from There into Russia, Menzelintsev Says

Paul Goble

            Staunton, June 19 – Central Asians who have seen the amount of potable water available to them drop from 8400 cubic meters per capita per year a half century ago to only 2100 now, are certain to flood into the Russian Federation which has more than 20 percent of the world’s reserves of fresh water, Moscow historian Konstantin Menzelintsev says.

            Many have talked about such an influx as a possibility, the Federal City expert continues; but it is now inevitable. “I am certain,” he says, “that the era of wars over water is not something of the far distant future” (federalcity.ru/18653-uzhe-nedalekie-vojny-za-vodu-delajut-rossiju-potencialnoj-celju-dlja-agressivnoj-migracii.html).

            As a result, Menzelintsev continues, “the beginning of an aggressive migration into neighboring countries for residents of the countries of Central Asia is only a question of time.” This wave will hit Kazakhstan first and then it will flow onward into the Russian Federation.

            The Kremlin “must prepare for such a turn of events by strengthening its borders and taking control migration flows,” he says. Otherwise, it could quickly be overwhelmed and then collapse in much the same way other countries have when they have experienced uncontrolled immigration flows.