More than 100 thousand specialists in computer issues left Russia after the start of hostilities in Ukraine.
Russia announced this Wednesday that it will facilitate residence permits for foreign computer scientists , to alleviate the hardship of these highly qualified professionals, many of whom left the country after the offensive began in Ukraine. According to Russia’s Minister of Digital Development, Maskut Shadaiev, “about 100,000” computer scientists left the country last year.
“A foreign computer scientist working in a reputable computer company, as well as his family members (…) have the right to obtain a residence permit in the Russian Federation in a simplified form,” said a Russian Interior Ministry official, Irina Volk, in a video posted on social networks.
Russia was once an attractive country for computer scientists, but the start of the military intervention in Ukraine caused a veritable exodus. Most of them settled in the countries of the Caucasus, such as Armenia or Georgia, as well as in Turkey, Serbia, Israel and the United States.
From these countries, some continue to work remotely for Russian companies. Others do it for local companies in their respective host countries. Parallel to this, several foreign technology companies, such as the American Apple, left the Russian market, under the pressure of the international sanctions adopted against Moscow.
Volk indicated this Wednesday that “the period for examining a request for a residence permit is three months” for computer scientists who wish to settle in Russia. To do this, it will be enough for them to provide the Russian authorities with a valid employment contract and the qualifications obtained in the sector, the official explained.