Historical foundations of the migration policy of the Russian state

Introduction. The article analyzes the formation and development of modern migration policy of the Russian Federation. Special attention is paid to the periodization of the process and the assessment of the migration policy that took shape after the collapse of the USSR. The assessment of the factors of the formation of migration policy and migration flows heading to Russia is given, the historical, socio-cultural and economic attractiveness of Russia for migrants is emphasized, and the demographic significance of the migration process is substantiated. The analysis of statistical data on the number of migrants coming and leaving Russia is presented. The study provides the assessment of Eurasian migration and the constructive role of the EAEU in this process.

Materials and methods. The research is based on the analysis of Russian historiography on the problem of Russian migration policy, Russian and foreign statistical data, documents of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Russian government agencies. A systematic integrated approach, historical and comparative historical methods were used.

Analysis. The combination of objective and subjective circumstances has led to an extremely complicated migration situation in the Russian Federation. It was from this moment that the formation of the modern Russian migration system began. Immigration to Russia has a demographic context. At the present stage, the EAEU is a key context of Russian migration policy. The Eurasian integration, and especially the EAEU, is the central platform for its implementation.

Results. It is concluded that Russia’s modern migration policy is characterized by selectivity (attracting the right categories of migrants – from the EAEU, compatriots, and qualified specialists) and regional orientation (the post-Soviet space as a priority). The EAEU acts as a key institutional framework for the implementation of this policy. There are two stages in the development of Russia’s migration policy. The first stage was post-Soviet (1990s – early 2000s). After the collapse of the USSR, Russia began actively accepting immigrants from the former Soviet republics, mostly Russians. The second stage is modern (since the mid-2000s). A more systematic approach has been formed; key conceptual documents have been adopted (the 2012 Concept of State Migration Policy, the updated 2019 Concept, and the National Security Strategy).

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