The Future of the Refugees and Forced Migrants Arriving in the Russian Federation because of the Special Military Operation

Abstract

The paper analyzes the collective perspectives on the future of refugees and displaced persons who arrived in Russia. The researchers conducted 17 semi-structured interviews with them during their stay, both in temporary centers for internally displaced people (IDP) and elsewhere. The study’s results showed that the move to the Russian Federation was voluntary: refugees and internally displaced people considered all alternative options and chose Russia, where they could satisfy their basic need for security. Difficulties with paperwork and bureaucracy have become common problems of adaptation for all. Another burdensome circumstance was the low level of respondents’ legal literacy. The key actors who provided support and assistance to refugees and forced migrants were the state and nonprofit organizations (NPO’s), from which the respondents continue expecting comprehensive support, starting with psychological assistance and simplification of bureaucratic procedures and ending with housing benefits. The authors found that refugees and forced migrants consider the future as one of the most pressing issues and a subject that requires urgent discussion. They also identified a quick planning horizon, which is determined by the achievement of immediate goals, such as successful employment. Therefore, it is unnecessary to discuss medium-term or long-term planning. Furthermore, their adaptation process, the external context, and the course of their work significantly influenced the planning horizon of the studied group.