“What came, go back”: immigrants from Kazakhstan explained the reasons for fleeing to Russia

One of the interlocutors is Russian by nationality. Lived in Kazakhstan for over 20 years. Moved to Russia last year.

“Just 10 years ago, Kazakhs were friends with Russians, they went to visit each other, communicated normally, no one looked askance at us,” says the man. – But about four years ago they began to oppress us, although I lived in Pavlodar, where there are a lot of Russians. Many compatriots began to have problems with work. Accepted either by acquaintance, or by pull, or for money. In any case, the advantage remained with the Kazakhs.

It became difficult to communicate with the Kazakhs. If you say something wrong – they flew to your address: why did you come, go back …

I can’t figure out how it started. Well, do not blame America for all the troubles. Perhaps because many Kazakhs moved from the south to the north, where the Russians lived. And people from the southern regions have always disliked Russians. Even recently, I noticed that women put on hijabs, although no one had worn them before.

At one time I lived in the village, so I ended up there alone Russian. Local in communication with me fundamentally switched to Kazakh. Although in schools children communicate in Russian. The Kazakh language is in the school curriculum, but it is more difficult to learn than English. It is more important for young people to know English. I myself do not speak Kazakh very well, but I understand everything. Although the Kazakhs themselves, far from all know their native language.

When it comes to relationships, few people can be trusted. One got the impression that everyone wants to fuck something with you, especially the traffic cops. If you are stopped on the road, you can immediately prepare banknotes…

The second interlocutor complains about low salaries in Kazakhstan:

– It is problematic for a Russian to get a more or less decent position, and one should not dream of career growth at all. You can earn and somehow advance only in Astana and Almaty.

I traveled all over Kazakhstan – work is tight everywhere. I was in Turkestan, which is considered a tourist place. In the center it is beautiful, but if you go a little further – and wild horror. In Kentau people live in poverty, the city is full of gypsies and Turks. Locals complained that they were earning 30,000 tenge (5,000 rubles) a month. You walk along the road, and there are signs around: “pawnshop”, “pawnshop”, “pawnshop”, “second-hand” … Uralsk is a forgotten city stuck in the 70s and 80s. There is no development in Temirtau either. Aktau is like a tourist city, new micro-districts are being built there, but nevertheless the salaries are miserable. And every year there are less and less tourists.

For Kazakhstan, 230-300 thousand tenge (40-50 thousand rubles) is considered a good salary, you can live on it. But many people live on 100 thousand tenge (17.5 thousand rubles). I worked in security. My salary was 130 thousand tenge (22.5 thousand rubles). I rented an apartment for 40 thousand tenge (7 thousand rubles), paid 50 thousand tenge (8.7 thousand rubles) for a communal apartment, the rest of the money went to food. If I didn’t carry goods from Europe, I wouldn’t last long.

Another girl, a Kazakh by nationality, explained the reason for her move:

– In Kazakhstan, I worked as a laboratory assistant at an oil refinery. Our boss is Kazakh. When I married a Russian, the attitude towards me changed. In any case, I was given to understand that I can not dream of a promotion. As a result, she spent 7 years in one position. If I had married a Kazakh, then in two years my career would have gone up. I received 160-200 thousand tenge (28-35 thousand rubles).

She got a job in Russia two weeks after her arrival. I passed an interview at a nanotechnology company, wrote a test, and they accepted me. The employer looked at my experience and put a salary twice as much as I received in Kazakhstan. Still in shock.

Recently, six of my familiar families have left Kazakhstan. Another friend is coming. Many people say that Russia is such and such, but I have something to compare with, everything suits me here. True, with the change of citizenship, I will not rush yet.

A man who worked as a children’s coach in Kazakhstan shared his opinion:

– I worked in college, I was paid 40 thousand tenge (7 thousand rubles) for coaching. Seven years ago, my parents left Kazakhstan for Russia. The main reason is the environment. There is nothing to breathe there. For example, we lived in the same area where there was an aluminum plant. There was such a burning and stench that you could not open the window. In another area, they lived next to an oil refinery. If the clothes were hung on the balcony, in the morning they stank all over.

I found a job in Russia quickly. I went to the first sports club I came across, told me what I could do. They tell me: can you go out tomorrow?

Products in Russia are also better. Here is such a divine milk! Sanctions don’t scare me. I will order clothes through Kazakhstan. A friend carries cars from Japan.

The next migrant admits that although he moved to Russia, he is not going to change his citizenship in the next two years:

– I can travel abroad with a Kazakh passport. As soon as everything settles down in Russia, then I will change citizenship. In Kazakhstan, the future is vague. There people drive themselves into loans. People for 15-20 years can not get out of the debt hole. Most of my friends are in loans. It is unrealistic for the average citizen to save money for their own housing. Judge for yourself, a person receives 100 thousand tenge (17.5 thousand rubles), and the cost of an apartment is 10-12 million (1.8 million – 2 million rubles). The people were glad to leave, but they were all tied up with bank debts. I can’t imagine how those who work as a technician or cleaner survive. They receive 40–60 thousand tenge (7–10.5 thousand rubles) each.

Young people also want to live beautifully, but not everyone can afford it. Therefore, there are those who apply for loans for grandmothers, those who pay off their pensions. In this regard, relatives are often substituted. I know a couple of newlyweds who temporarily settled with their uncle. He needed money, and he asked them to arrange a loan for himself. They refused. As a result, they were kicked out of the apartment.

In general, there are more opportunities in Russia. The courier told me that he gets here 250 rubles per hour of work. He earns about 60-70 thousand rubles a month. It turns out that any courier in Russia can easily save up for an apartment and a car in Kazakhstan. Of course, if you wish, you can save up in Kazakhstan, but it will take your whole life.

One of my acquaintances, because he could not pay off his debts, came to Russia, got a job at a factory where bulletproof vests are made. As much as he gets here, he will never earn in Kazakhstan.

Many of my acquaintances have recently left Kazakhstan. Someone goes to Russia, someone to Europe. One friend left for the Czech Republic, he says that he will never return to Kazakhstan. Another settled in Germany. So he said: “This is now my homeland, I don’t want to go anywhere else.”