Status of Russian Migrants: A Comparative Study

Abstract

This thesis addresses the recent exodus from Russia after 24 February 2022, examining the impact migration policy modifications had on the rights available to regular Russian migrants under immigration statuses in their new states of residence. Based on comparative legal studies and the implementation of the law-in-context approach, Germany, Kazakhstan, and Türkiye are considered diverse cases that fulfil key criteria. Hereby, they share the experience of significant influxes of Russians after 24 February 2022 and observable migration policy modifications by November 2024. Despite the hypothesis that modifications of national migration policies shrink the sets of rights available to regular post-February 2022 Russian immigrants, the research outcomes inform about a more complex picture. On the one hand, Kazakhstan and Türkiye introduced measures to reduce semi-legality by tightening migration controls and limiting practices like visa runs. In turn, Germany has increased scrutiny of visa applications, driven by security concerns in the geopolitical context. On the other hand, all three jurisdictions have also expanded migrants’ rights in specific ways, mainly through measures aimed at attracting skilled workers, creating clearer pathways to long-term residence, and fostering economic growth. Considering that the rights of migrants are derived from their immigration statuses within the multi-dimensional legal framework and socio-political context of hosting states, the study concludes that while national migration policy modifications have restricted rights for specific categories of migrants, they have simultaneously created new opportunities for regularization and stability. Although none of the countries introduced specific mechanisms exclusively for post-February 2022 Russian immigrants, Germany maintained targeted measures rather than sweeping restrictions, Kazakhstan demonstrated a pragmatic balance between economic interests and security concerns, and opaque and fast-changing migration policies in Türkiye reduced the migrant population.