Key factors and peculiarities of the Russian migration policy

The author attempts to examine the evolution of the Russian migration policy since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Measures to cope with forced migration of the early 1990s, as well as attempts to manage legal and illegal labour migration since late 1990s until nowadays are described. The paper analyzes the main forces influencing immigration policy. The author shows that immigration policy is often determined by two contradictory factors. On the one hand, there is a recognized need to attract immigrants because of the reduction of the population, especially of working age. On the other hand, initial attitude towards migrants in Russian society is mostly negative. The author concludes that Russian migration policy has undergone many changes, not always consistent and coherent. It passed the way from measures to address migration flows in exceptional circumstances after the dissolution of the Soviet Union to the stated policy of attracting and selecting of permanent and temporary migrant workers.