Putin’s War in Ukraine has Created a New and Very Different Ethnic Russia Diaspora in Kazakhstan

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Dec. 2 – In 2022, 400,000 Russians fled to Kazakhstan and many observers predicted they would create enormous problems for that Central Asian country. But now roughly three-quarters have moved on to other countries or returned to Russia, and the 100,000 ethnic Russians who have stayed now form a new and very different diaspora, Igor Klevtsov says.

            In an article in The Times of Central Asia, the Russian journalist says that despite initial fears, the original mass arrival “did not damage Kazakhstan’s economy” and that those who have remained are making a valuable contribution to it (timesca.com/how-the-russian-relocation-wave-reshaped-kazakhstans-economy/).

              The influx of Russians “brought not only capital but also the consumption habits of Russai’s megacities.” Their wealth pushed up housing prices and led to the gentrification of major Kazakhstan cities, but their skills both directly contributed to the economy and became a model for Kazakhs.

              There is some tension between indigenous Kazakhs and the new Russian diaspora over jobs, but the attitudes of the ethnic Russians who remain are very different than many might have expected. Many are learning Kazakh, “not just as a practical necessity but also as a gesture of respect.”

              This sets the new Russian diaspora in Kazakhstan apart: “Unlike earlier migration waves marked by colonial overtones, today’s arrivals tend to reject imperial narratives and express respect for local culture.” They are increasingly well-integrated and “a significant share” of them are likely to remain in Kazakhstan even after Putin’s war in Ukraine is over.