Some 10% of digital workers in Russia have left their country this year, according to the Kremlin. Departures that raise concerns about a brain drain, while Moscow ensures that it does not impose strict restrictions on tech employees.
Since the start of the offensive against Ukraine, around 100,000 Russians working in the high-tech sector have decided to leave their country, and ” are located abroad said Digital Development Minister Maksout Shadayev on Tuesday, December 20.
Very worrying departures for the Kremlin. This is a massive brain drain – computer scientists, artificial intelligence experts or cryptocurrency specialists – which could create shortages and weaken this strategic sector, which requires highly qualified personnel. In addition, Western economic sanctions add other difficulties, such as problems with financing or the supply of certain electronic components.
If the minister does not mention the causes of this exodus, many tech employees fled their country after the start of the war in Ukraine at the end of February. Departures then increased with the announcement in September of the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of Russians of fighting age. The digital employees concerned have mainly taken refuge in Turkey, Georgia or Central Asia such as Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
Keeping its tech experts at all costs
According to the Minister of Digital Development, a large majority of these tech employees – 80% – would still work remotely for Russian companies. Because as he assures us, these professions are compatible with teleworking.
To avoid aggravating the situation and causing excessive shortages in the technology sector, Maksout Shadayev recommends not to introduce “ strict restrictions » to workers in the sector, to avoid « push them to look for work in foreign companies and keep them in Russia.
(And with AFP)