NUR-SULTAN -- The number of Russians seeking permanent residence in Kazakhstan is rising as Moscow's war against Ukraine continues.
Kazakh Deputy Interior Minister Marat Qozhaev said on April 13 that, in the first quarter of 2022, the number of Russian nationals who applied for permanent residence in Kazakhstan reached 1,055 people, almost triple the number in an average quarter. Russia launched its unprovoked attack on Ukraine on February 24.
Qozhaev also said that, in addition to permanent residence applicants, about 10,000 Russian citizens have applied for a Kazakh individual identification number (IIN), which allows people, including foreigners, to open accounts in Kazakhstan’s banks as international sanctions have blocked foreign operations at many financial institutions in Russia.
Qozhaev said that, at the moment, there are around 130,000 Russian citizens and almost 3,500 Ukrainian citizens residing in Kazakhstan, of whom 170 Russians and seven Ukrainians had applied for Kazakh citizenship since January 1.
Tens of thousands of Russian citizens have been leaving the country, mostly for other parts of Europe, since the beginning of Russia's wide-scale attack against Ukraine. Some Russians have chosen to leave for Kazakhstan and other former Soviet republics, which are still seen as close to Moscow.
Number Of Russian Citizens Applying For Permanent Residence In Kazakhstan Rising
Some Russians who have decided to leave their country have been heading to Kazakhstan and other former Soviet republics. (file photo)