Osadchaya G.I., Yudina T.N., Volkova O.A., Kireev E.Yu. Return Migration From Russia to Kyrgyzstan: Dynamics, Causes, and Structure. Changing Societies & Personalities. 2023. Vol. 7. No. 3. Pp. 122-140. Osadchaya G.I., Yudina T.N., Volkova O.A., Kireev E.Yu. Return Migration From Russia to Kyrgyzstan: Dynamics, Causes, and Structure. Changing Societies & Personalities. 2023. Vol. 7. No. 3. Pp. 122-140. ISSN 2587-6104DOI 10.15826/csp.2023.7.3.244ÐÈÍÖ: https://elibrary.ru/contents.asp?id=54886379Posted on site: 09.12.23Òåêñò ñòàòüè íà ñàéòå æóðíàëà URL: https://changing-sp.com/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/450 (äàòà îáðàùåíèÿ 09.12.2023)AbstractThe study’s significance lies in the need for comprehensive information on return labor migration from Russia to Kyrgyzstan and the profiles of return migrants, which would allow us to anticipate spatial mobility in the future. This is particularly relevant due to Russia’s interest in new migrants as essential labor force to address the demographic crisis. The Kyrgyzstani government also requires these data to prevent unemployment among return migrants. This paper aims to assess return migration dynamics and its structure, uncover the causes, goals, and reasons for recurrent migration to Russia, and examine the expectations of Russia’s social and migration policy during the special military operation. The empirical analytical base comprises the results of a questionnaire survey of 515 return migrants and focused in-depth interviews with 37 return migrants in Kyrgyzstan in October–November 2022, as well as a questionnaire survey of 425 labor migrants and focused interviews with 52 labor migrants in November–December 2022 in Moscow. The findings indicate that return migration is voluntary and spontaneous. The official estimate of the scope of return migration, as well as the prospects of labor migration to Russia after February 24th, 2022 and the imposition of anti-Russian sanctions, remains unclear. The structure of return migration aligns with the structure of labor migration in Russia in terms of gender, age, and employment sectors. The motivation behind the decision to return has a cumulative effect. However, most respondents cited personal and family issues as the main reasons for return migration. Approximately 30% of respondents, regardless of gender, attributed the special military operation and the worsening economic situation in Russia as reasons for returning to their The study’s significance lies in the need for comprehensive informationon return labor migration from Russia to Kyrgyzstan and the profilesof return migrants, which would allow us to anticipate spatial mobilityin the future. This is particularly relevant due to Russia’s interest innew migrants as essential labor force to address the demographiccrisis. The Kyrgyzstani government also requires these data to preventunemployment among return migrants. This paper aims to assessreturn migration dynamics and its structure, uncover the causes,goals, and reasons for recurrent migration to Russia, and examine theexpectations of Russia’s social and migration policy during the specialmilitary operation. The empirical analytical base comprises the resultsof a questionnaire survey of 515 return migrants and focused in-depthinterviews with 37 return migrants in Kyrgyzstan in October–November2022, as well as a questionnaire survey of 425 labor migrants andfocused interviews with 52 labor migrants in November–December2022 in Moscow. The findings indicate that return migration is voluntaryand spontaneous. The official estimate of the scope of return migration,as well as the prospects of labor migration to Russia after February 24th,2022 and the imposition of anti-Russian sanctions, remains unclear.The structure of return migration aligns with the structure of labormigration in Russia in terms of gender, age, and employment sectors.The motivation behind the decision to return has a cumulative effect.However, most respondents cited personal and family issues as themain reasons for return migration. Approximately 30% of respondents,regardless of gender, attributed the special military operation and theworsening economic situation in Russia as reasons for returning to theirÀâòîðû:, , ,