Exiled in Central Asia: Patterns of Activism and Disengagement of Russian Émigrés

• In Event: Activism among Russian Migrants

Abstract

This article looks into the patterns of political and civic activism among Russian émigrés in Central Asia after February 2022, beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, focusing on Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan as primary destinations. Using empirical data from 99 semi-structured interviews conducted in 2023, we examine the interplay of individual agency, structural constraints, and transnational influences shaping migrants’ activism. Despite legal restrictions, economic challenges, and the fear of transnational repression, some migrants remain engaged in grassroots or political activities, driven by ethical responsibility and solidarity. The findings reveal a nuanced dynamic: while many migrants disengage due to host-state authoritarianism and resource constraints, others adapt their activism to safer, community-driven forms.

Authors

• Margarita Zavadskaya, Finnish Institute of International Affairs (Finland)

• Mikhail Turchenko, Northwestern U