Perceptions and Policy Responses to Russian War Refugees: The Cases of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

Central Asia has recently experienced a new wave of Russian migrants fleeing the Russo-Ukrainian War. This study aims to explore public perceptions of these migrants and the policies adopted by Central Asian governments. This paper employs document analysis, fieldwork, interviews, and surveys to examine public attitudes and governmental policies toward Russian refugees in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The findings highlight two key insights. First, Central Asian citizens generally view Russian migrants positively, seeing them as potential contributors to social welfare and economic opportunities. This contrasts with the more commonly negative perceptions of refugees in other countries. Second, there are notable differences in public attitudes and government responses toward Russian migrants across Central Asian countries. Specifically, the Kyrgyz public and government exhibit more favorable attitudes and policies toward Russian refugees than their Kazakh counterparts. These findings provide a basis for further research on the impact of the Russo-Ukrainian War on Central Asia, as well as the geopolitical dynamics within the region.