Only 9% of Russians would like to move abroad, this is the minimum figure for the entire observation period. There are several more such people among the youngest Russians, but even here the number of those wishing to emigrate has more than tripled in three years. The reasons for emigration are primarily the desire to provide children with a decent future, the political and economic situation in Russia, as well as interest in another culture. Among the areas of possible emigration, respondents more often name the United States, European countries and Turkey. One in six of the respondents among their relatives and friends have people who have gone abroad for permanent residence in the last 2-3 years, this proportion is higher among oppositional citizens. A negative or neutral attitude prevails towards those who have left.

Emigration sentiment.

The majority of Russians (90%) would not like to move abroad for permanent residence. 9% of respondents would like to emigrate, this figure dropped sharply after the start of the civil war and the escalation of the conflict with the West (in mid-February 2022, 19% wanted to move abroad, but a month later their number dropped to 10%).

Among the younger age groups, the proportion of those wishing to emigrate is slightly higher than among the older ages – 15% in the groups of 18-24 years old and 25-39 years old (against 3% among respondents 55 years old and older. The decline in 2022 was observed in all age groups, but among the youngest the decline was particularly sharp (more than three times in three years).

Among the reasons for moving, respondents most often mention the desire to ensure a better future for their children (43%). And during the observations, the significance of this reason practically does not change and remains in 1-2 place among others. The mention of the “political situation in Russia” among the reasons for moving to another country has been growing in recent years and today reaches a third of the responses (36%). The peak value for the answer option “the economic situation in Russia” occurred in 2016 (after the manifestation of economic difficulties caused by the first packages of Western sanctions) and has been gradually decreasing since then.

The main areas of possible relocation are primarily the USA (11%), Germany (8%), Italy (6%), Turkey (6%) and other European countries.

About 3% of respondents are considering specific possibilities of moving to another country (the peak was in May 2021 — 8% of Russians). Less than one percent have already made a firm decision to leave or are collecting exit documents.

The proportion of those who are considering leaving or sometimes thinking about this topic is higher among younger Russians (16% in the 18-24 group, 18% in the 25-39 group), as well as among oppositional citizens (35% among those who disapprove of the president’s activities).

Attitude towards people leaving the country.

One in six respondents says that among their relatives and friends there are people who have moved abroad for permanent residence in the last two years. This share is slightly higher among Muscovites (20%), residents of cities with a population of 100 to 500 thousand people (21%), as well as among those who disapprove of the president’s activities (34%)

According to the respondents, “traitors and traitors to the Motherland” (43%) and “those who do not believe in the future of Russia” (40%) leave Russia first of all. At the same time, younger respondents (18-24 years old and 25-39 years old) more often voice the opinion that “those who suffer from discrimination” leave (19% and 20%, respectively). Among the more oppositional Russians, the latter option is chosen much more often – 28%. Respondents who disapprove of the president’s activities are also more likely to believe that “those who are afraid of new mobilization” (43%) or “those who want to achieve more” (40%) leave Russia.

At the same time, the attitude towards artists, TV presenters and “celebrities” who moved abroad after the start of their military service is somewhat worse than towards Russians who left the mobilization (55% condemn the first group, 49% condemn the second). Over the year, the attitude towards the “celebrities” who left has deteriorated somewhat: the proportion of respondents with a positive attitude has decreased (by 2 percentage points), and increases with a negative one (by 3 percentage points). Whereas the general attitude towards Russians who left due to concerns about partial mobilization is becoming more neutral and indifferent (an increase in this share by 5 percentage points).

Russians who would like to move abroad have a better attitude towards both groups of those who left: 18% have a positive attitude towards celebrities who moved after the start of the military operation, 22% – towards Russians who moved from mobilization, 58% and 61% are neutral towards them, respectively.