TRANSFORMATION OF RUSSIA’S MIGRATION POLICY: TRENDS, PRIORITIES, AND THE PLACE OF CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to identify the features of the transformation of the migration policy of the Russian Federation in 2000–2020, as well as identifying the role of the Central Asian countries and their priorities in migration policy. The article uses analytical and statistical research methods to identify the geographical priorities of the migration policy of the Russian Federation. The analysis of the conceptual documents reflecting the key messages of the Russian migration policy was carried out. Findings: it is revealed that in recent years, citizens of Central Asian countries have been actively receiving documents that give the right to long — term residence in Russia-a temporary residence permit and a residence permit, as well as Russian citizenship. Despite the importance of migration from Central Asia for Russia, this region is hardly mentioned in official documents on migration policy and migration regulation. Conclusions: migrants from Central Asian countries make a significant contribution to the socio-demographic development of Russia: first, migration partially reduces the shortage of labor resources, provides labor for many sectors of the economy and regions; second, migration replenishes the population of regions and localities where depopulation occurs; third, migrants partially compensate for the decline in the birth rate and the number of children in some regions and localities of the country. The Russian migration policy does not officially identify priorities for inviting migrants from Central Asia to permanent residence in the country. However, in practice, migrants from Central Asian countries are officially considered by the Russian authorities as temporary labor.