A total of 3,880,679 people left Russia in the first quarter of 2022, statistical data published by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) informs.
A total of 38,281 people left Russia for Georgia, which is nearly five times higher than in the corresponding period of last year (8,504).
In the first three months of 2022, 134,129 people left Russia for Armenia, which is three times higher than in the first quarter of 2021 (44,586). A total of 56,475 people left Russia for Azerbaijan (compared to 20,378 in the corresponding period of last year), 53,084 people left for Uzbekistan (compared to 15,206 in the first quarter of 2021), and 40,054 people left for Tajikistan (8,857 in the first quarter of last year).
The number of people who left Russia for Kazakhstan has nearly doubled: 204,947 people in the first quarter of this year compared to 122,330 in the first three months of 2021.
A total of 328,435 people left Russia for Ukraine in the first quarter of 2022, compared to 316,286 in the corresponding period of last year. Over 700,000 people left for the partially recognised Republic of Abkhazia (744,548 in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 789,330 in the first quarter of 2021).
In the first quarter of 2022, entry to the majority of European states was still restricted due to COVID regulations. Border restrictions were active in Asian states as well: for example, Kazakhstan lifted all entry restrictions with Russia only on April 11.
In early March, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Levan Davitashvili stated that about 25,000 people had left Russia for Georgia since the start of the war in Ukraine. Georgia was one of the most common destinations for Russians seeking to leave the country, due to visa restrictions, closed airspace and COVID regulations.
