NUMBER OF MOLDOVANS IN RUSSIA FELL 22.2 THOUSAND OVER A YEAR

Moldova ranks 6th among CIS countries in number of migrants in the territory of the Russian Federation, though their number fell by 22.2 thousand (3.9%) over a year.

The Federal Migration Service of Russia data say that according to the results of 1Q2015, there were 553.2 thousand Moldovan citizens in Russia, which is 5.1% of the total number of migrants in Russia.

Most migrants in Russia are from Ukraine – 2,554 million people (23.3% of the total number) and their inflow grew over a year by 950.1 thousand (+59.2%) due to military conflict in Donetsk and Lugansk oblast.

The number of migrants from Kazakhstan also went up – by 13.8% - to 644.4 thousand.

The number of other migrants has considerably fallen: from Uzbekistan – 2.1 million people (-300.7 thousand), from Tajikistan - 971.8 thousand (-108.6 thousand), from Azerbaijan – 555.8 thousand (-34 thousand).

This is explained both by toughening of the Russia’s migration legislation, and by the Russian ruble depreciation, due to which for many people it became unprofitable to go earn money to Russia.