Russia's Brain Drain Is Astounding

Elena Holodny     

Business Insider - Dec. 2, 2014

Russia is experiencing another major brain drain.  Although emigration trended downward from 1997 to 2011, there was a sudden spike in people leaving the country around the third term of President Vladimir Putin, according to Rosstat, Russia's federal state statistics service.  In 2012, almost 123,000 people left, and in 2013, more than 186,000 got out.  Additionally, a UN report showed that 40,000 Russians applied for asylum in 2013 — 76% more than in 2012.  The biggest bombshell of all is that since April 2014 — a month after Russia annexed Crimea — 203,659 Russians have left the country.

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