Why the exodus of Russians to Central Asia matters
Draft-dodgers will test housing and job markets—and cause geopolitical jitters
SINCE SEPTEMBER 21st, when Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, announced a “partial” military mobilisation to bolster his forces in Ukraine, hundreds of thousands of Russian men have fled to escape the draft. A large share headed south to the “Stans”—five post-Soviet countries that have remained, broadly speaking, allied with Russia. Kazakhstan, and to a lesser extent Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, seem to be the most popular destinations in the region. What might the influx of Russians mean for them?
This article appeared in the The Economist explains section of the print edition under the headline “Why the exodus of Russians to Central Asia matters”
From the October 15th 2022 edition
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