Russians Are Fleeing Turkey In Droves

• 16.11.2023, 9:03

What's going on?

The unofficial capital of Russian migrants in Turkey, Antalya, experienced the most powerful outflow of migrants in its entire history. In 2023, 16% of those with residence permits left the city, The Moscow Times reports.

The exodus has accelerated in the past four months, 17,000 residents left the province, according to economic agency Ekonomim. The number of foreigners with residence permits leaving Antalya has reached 25,000 this year.

Most Russians return to Russia, but some move to Europe.

Since last year, the Turkish authorities have closed the main enclave of residence for Russians, the Konyaalti district for obtaining a residence permit. The district is located in the central part of Antalya near the Mediterranean Sea.

Antalya has been a very popular place among Russian citizens. They were buying real estate and moving there.

The Turkish market has become more closed. Antalya Chamber of Realtors, Car Dealers, and Business Trackers President İsmail Çağlar stated that Antalya's “real estate and rent bubble” has burst. He added that rents, which reached 25,000 Turkish lira ($880) during the war, are now returning to normal levels. Real estate sales to foreigners fell by 29.23% in the first nine months of 2023.

Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Trade president Ali Bahar stated that the number of foreigners residing in the province has decreased by 10% compared to the previous year. He attributed the emigration of foreigners to factors such as high rent prices, cost of living, cost of citizenship, and difficulties in obtaining residence permits. Russians in other regions of Turkey faced similar problems.