The ethnic composition of migration in the former Soviet Union

"This paper examines the impact of the disintegration of the Soviet Union on migration patterns within the newly independent states. Data on migration between Russia and the other 14 former Soviet republics are analyzed to reveal the magnitude and ethnic composition of migration after independence and to examine the assumption that Russians will tend to return to Russia, whereas members of other titular groups will emigrate to their respective newly independent states. The data suggest that nationalization not only pushes non-titular groups to emigrate from the former Soviet republics, but also pulls titular groups to immigrate to the newly independent states from Russia."