Emigration

Since the beginning of 2012 year in Russia, there has been an increase in emigration to the countries of the European Union and the United States. This is primarily due to the return of Vladimir Putin to the Kremlin. Further intensification of the wave of emigration occurred in the 2014 year after the illegal, in the opinion of the international community, accession of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea to Russia. This has also been caused by the sharply increased militaristic rhetoric. Since that time in Russia and on the territory of the Crimea, mass harassment of public activists, journalists, bloggers, for expressing their opinions has begun. Since January 2017, persecutions of followers of Jehovah's Witnesses began, the teachings of which were declared illegal in Russia, and other religious denominations.

Most of the wave of emigration from Russia consists of social activists, journalists, bloggers, human rights activists and even businessmen. All of them were forced to leave, fearing threats, illegal harassment by investigative bodies and special services, as well as violence by pro-government groups.