Evolving as a minority – Russians in Kyrgyzstan
Editor’s Note: What follows is part of a cross-blog survey that sheds light on the rich ethnic tapestry of Central Asia.
A few years ago the issue of Russians living in Kyrgyzstan has become a real issue. With the collapse of the Soviet Union it was suddenly discovered that Russians living in the country are not welcome here any more. Consistent efforts to push the Russian-speaking population away resulted in massive migration of those who lived and worked in Kyrgyzstan for decades.
According to the National Statistic Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic in 2006 25 thousand ethnic Russians have left Kyrgyzstan in search for a better life. They were also trying to escape mass scale discrimination that became the newest phenomenon. 55.000 Russians are now queueing to obtain Russian citizenship or at least a status of refugees (!).
What about those who are still staying in Kyrgyzstan? Are they optimistic enough to consider the country their motherland? Do they think there are any prospects for them in this country? The answer in general is “NO”. In capitals.
Ethnic Russians claim that one of the reasons for them to leave Kyrgyzstan is the unstable political situation. People don’t feel protected any more. Criminal situation is also contributing to setting people on the move. Those who are not scared by criminals point at the worsening economic situation, claiming that it’s not possible to survive and that there is no future out there. Language tensions is also an issue.
Young people are especially determined to leave. “As soon as I graduate from my University I’ll leave for Russia. My parents agree that this is the only possible choice. Here all I can count on is $100 salary and no prospects at all. In Russia, on the contrary, I’ll be able to earn enough money, to marry a Russian man, to obtain a citizenship and live without any major problems. ”-says one of the students of the Kyrgyz-Russian University in Bishkek.
According to a number of sociological surveys, majority of Russians leaving the country are young people in the age of 30-35. Surveys also claim that 44% of Russians currently living in Kyrgyzstan are ready to leave for Russia immediately, only 10% of Russians have hesitations about abandoning the country. Only 2 % of ethnic Russians are planning to stay in Kyrgyzstan.
It’s safe to conclude now that political declarations about making Kyrgyzstan a homeplace for all the nations have failed profoundly. Some politicians recently announced that Kyrgyzstan “is a home for Kyrgyz nationals, others are just tenats”.
on March 29th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
I would say that this article is quite one-sided and full of exaggerations. First of all, this quote: “Russians living in the country are not welcome here any more” is a generalisation. For example, Bishkek is a primarily Russian-language city, and me personally is an example of an ethnic Kyrgyz whose native language is Russian. And I don’t face any linguistic problems in the capital city at least, the one is enough to know Russian to be successful in Bishkek.
I would come to the following points:
a) Yes, there is some kind of a concealed discrimination against minorities, but I would not say that it has reached really large scales in the country;
b) The large scale of migration is based on the economic reasons mostly, and this is highlighted in this article. And I don’t think that the economic reasons are dealing with nationalism or discrimination somehow. Just for comparison, a lot of ethnic Kyrgyz are migrating to work in Russia as well.
on March 29th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
I don’t think this situation is quite what really happens nowadays.. though migration is clearly present, I agree to Mr Iskender… what we see is actually caused by the financial issues or most probably unemployment.. looking for the better future, someone leaves.. but why don’t anyone here mention hundreds of Kyrgyz natives working in Russia… in bazaars… they are no russian… still prefer delivering the selling vegetables and fruits in Russia.. probably shipping them from here… it’s all about money, Friends… I really do not appreciate this kinda Racial prism… unless someone is interested…
on March 29th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
I think the article would be more persuasive if it was backed up by facts and linked to the sociological surveys that are cited. Otherwise, it looks like an article based on personal feelings only, and it is ok, it is an opinion, but very one-sided. And it’s true that ethnic Kyrgyz are leaving to work in Kazakhstan and Russia as well.
on March 30th, 2007 at 11:00 am
It’ is true that ethnic Russians have been largely pushed out of Kyrgyzstan’s adminitstration and police. But for the rest, one can not speak of an anti-Russian policy or social climate, like the popular antipathy that exists against Chinese, for instance.
Many horror stories about ‘nationalism’, anti-Russian discrimination and anti-Russian violence in Kyr:
a) have either been made up, eg. by certain Russian media, or by the ethnic Russian pseudo-refugees from Kyr who applied for asylum in European countries;
b) are the product of a certain mindset characterised by racism, social prejudice and post-colonial frustrations, that one finds among many ethnic Russians especially those in Bishkek; the primal fear of the city folks for the periphery, st. that also prevails among many russianised ‘Bishkek Kyrgyz’ btw.
“People don’t feel protected any more.”
How much specifically anti-Russian violence has there been in Kyr since the perestroika years?
What ethnic violence there was, was between non-Russians: Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in Uzgen (1990); Kyrgyz and Tajiks in Batken (very localised, sev. times between 1997 and 2004); Kyrgyz and Dungan in Iskra (2006).
Some say, the lootings after Akayev’s ouster were targeted against Russian busineses; yes, amongst others yet there was little ‘ethnic-nationalist’ agenda behind it.
on March 30th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Those people with access to Vechernyi Bishkek may want to take a look at Andrei Oreshkin’s article “Why I’m Still Here” published today (30/03/2007 - http://members.vb.kg/2007/03/30/protivn/1.html), which gives a decidely more upbeat view of things.
Even so, much of what he says chimes with Yulia’s article; even in the absence of statistics, it is worth considering opinions, since people’s perceptions of situations are usually far more influential than statistical realities.
on April 4th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Vecherniy Bishkek is a shitty paper that limits its online articles to non-registered users. Could you please copy it here?
on June 6th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
I do understand the feelings of Yulia… However, let me give an example about those who left and returned!!! Half of people leaving our country(especially, from villages) for a better life in other countries, like Russia, Germany, etc. are not fully satisfied with “new” life… It would not be agreed that they ear much more; relatively, the salaries are proportional to time spent and concern had. One of the most need of human being is a spiritual satisfaction!!! Unfortunately, no so many of them find it there…
Still, regards…
on February 20th, 2008 at 7:58 am
I agree with above said comments, this article is one sided and it’s Yulia’s personal feelings. And we should respect that.
I know that some Russians have such feelings, but there are also other Russians who are happy to deal with Kyrgyz people. People (and it’s not only Russians) leave Kyrgyzstan because of economical situation, cos’ they don’t satisfy with $100 salary, cos’ they have no guarantees that their new open businesses will not be taken by the government or some political people, or criminal.
I was born in Bishkek and live in Bishkek and I never felt racism from other nationalities that live in Kyrgyzstan. However for the last 10 years, mostly Russians showed open hostility towards Kyrgyz people, and when I was looking for a job or using one’s company’s service where there were only Russian employees, I always felt that I was humiliated.
Before I didn’t respect some Kyrgyz village people cos’ they were expressing openly their racism and ask Russians to go to Russia, but at the same time they brought the feeling of patriotism that we lost during the Soviet times.
I think Kyrgyz people started to respect themselves as a nation and some nationalities don’t like this as they are losing control on us.