Факторы привлекательности Армении для российских релокантовArmenia’s Appeal Factors for Russian Relocatees in the Context of Contemporary Migration Processes
『러시아연구』34권 제2호, 277-305
The article examines the factors that make Armenia an attractive destination for Russian relokants (relocatees) in the context of contemporary migration patterns following the outbreak of the military conflict in Ukraine in 2022. Adopting the push-pull factor model, the author analyses the reasons behind the choice of Armenia as a country of destination for migration, categorising the pull factors according to the principle of necessary and sufficient conditions. Necessary conditions include: visa-free regime with the possibility of unlimited extension of stay on the basis of visa run procedure, residence registration system and tolerance of violations of migration legislation. Sufficient conditions include: favourable climatic conditions, low cost of living, liberal employment policy, possibility of entry with internal passport, predominance of pro-Western vector in foreign policy, ethno-demographic and sociolinguistic factors. The study is based on in-depth interviews with migrants and analysis of secondary sources. The results underline the uniqueness of the migration situation in Armenia and its potential to create favourable migration conditions for the country’s economic development.