Russia: a better life? Years ago, people feared Moscow's harsh rule. Today, many are heading there in search of jobs.

Until 1991, Moscow was the capital of the Soviet Union, a Communist country that stretched almost halfway around the world. This vast country consisted of 15 republics (states)--the largest being Russia.

It was the most fearsome rival the United States had ever faced.

The Soviet Union was a harsh dictatorship that sought to increase its power worldwide (see sidebar, p. 12). It had a huge army and thousands of nuclear weapons, most of them pointed at the U.S.

But the Soviet economy was a wreck. Many of the people who lived in Russia's neighboring republics wanted to be free of Moscow's rule.

In 1991, they suddenly got their wish. That year, the Soviet Union broke apart into 15 independent countries. The great world superpower was no more.

People cheered their new freedom. But in most of those countries, independence has brought economic hardship and corrupt leaders. Millions of people who lived in what once were the Soviet republics have left home to seek a better future elsewhere.

"Need to Feed Our People"

Many of these people have headed to Moscow. Despite recent crackdowns on political freedom, immigrants are finding greater economic opportunity in Moscow. The Russian capital has become dazzlingly rich from oil and natural gas exports. It also has many jobs available that most Russians don't want.

One of those newcomers is Samat Murmazaev (mur-mah-ZAH-yev), 13, who is from Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia. Two years ago, his family moved to Moscow. Why?

"We need to feed our family," says Samat's father. "Here you can make a living." Like most immigrants in Moscow, the Murmazaevs live here illegally and could be deported if caught.

As the janitor in an apartment building in downtown Moscow, Samat's father gets free housing--one room for his family of five, with a shared kitchen and bathroom. Samat's mother works as a cook's helper in the canteen (cafeteria) of a Moscow bank.

Samat attends a nearby school. He considers himself lucky to be getting an education. "I have two Kyrgyz friends who don't go to school," he says, "because they don't speak Russian."

Samat's sister, Makhabat, 14, stays at home to watch their little brother. As illegal immigrants, the Murmazaevs have no access to government-run child care or health insurance.

"Cops Ask for Money"

The Murmazaevs hope to become Russian citizens someday. This will not be easy, because many government officials prefer not to grant legal status to illegal immigrants. There are several reasons for this. First, illegal immigrants will work for less money. Second, they can't demand government benefits.

Also, corrupt police officers regularly collect bribes from illegal immigrants who are afraid of being deported. "The cops can stop me on the street and ask for money," says Samat's mother. "There is always the risk of deportation." Like many illegal immigrants, she is nervous whenever she leaves the family's apartment.

Another threat to immigrants is Russian nationalists--people who put their country before everything else. In recent years, these nationalists have become more outspoken. Some have held hate-filled protests against immigrants. Skinhead gangs attack foreigners with alarming frequency.

In 2004, a 9-year-old girl from Tajikistan was stabbed to death by a group of Russian nationalists in St. Petersburg. Because of such violence, Samat's mother does not allow her children to go out after dark. Even her husband says that he doesn't go out at night. Two years ago, he and a friend were beaten up by a group of men because they didn't look Russian.

A Need for Immigrants

Although some Russians are hostile to immigrants, experts say that Russia needs newcomers to make up for a steep drop in the country's birth rate. Russia's President, Vladimir Putin (POO-tin), admits that immigrant workers are important for the economy. However, his government has not come up with an immigration plan.

As a capital city, Moscow has always attracted outsiders. Some newcomers fare better than others. While immigrants from Central Asia struggle to survive, other immigrant communities are well established.

The community of people from the country of Georgia in the Caucasus (KAW-kuh-suhs) Mountains runs several Moscow public schools. Nino Narsiya (NAR-see-yah), 14, attends one such school. Most of the students and teachers are ethnic Georgians. But all classes, except for Georgian language and literature, are taught in Russian.

Nino was born in southern Russia and spent her early childhood in Georgia. Because of the dismal economic situation at home, the Narsiyas moved to Moscow seven years ago. The entire family now has Russian citizenship. Nino's father, a champion weightlifter, works at one of the country's largest oil companies.

"There Had to Be a Revolution"

Nino's homeroom teacher, Alexi Beriashvili (ber-yah-SHVEEL-ee), also arrived from Georgia recently. He says that his status is completely legal. One day, he could become eligible for Russian citizenship.

"At heart, I'm Georgian," says Alexi. "It doesn't matter what passport I have. I won't lose my language, traditions, mentality, culture."

Alexi dosely follows news developments back home. In November 2003, peaceful protesters, fed up with poverty and corruption, forced Georgia's President from power. The new President has guided his country away from Russia and toward the U.S.

"There had to be a revolution," says Alexi. "Things were only getting worse in Georgia. Now things are moving in the right direction."

Change has come to Kyrgyzstan as well. In March 2005, public frustration with the country's dire economic situation exploded, and its President was forced to resign. Samat's father is hopeful about the new government. "There is a future in Kyrgyzstan," he says. "But it will take time."

With so much uncertainty in their native lands, immigrants from Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and other former Soviet republics see life in Russia as their safest bet. Nino says that she wants to stay in Moscow because it is so difficult to find work in Georgia.

Samat's mother wants her children, when they grow up, to give something back to the country they left behind. "I want them to finish school, go to college, get citizenship--and then do something good for our people."

Words to Know

* Communist: based on a political and economic system that, in theory, seeks equality for all people. In practice, it has led to dictatorships that allow little freedom.

* deport: send out of the country.

* immigrant: a person who has moved to a country where he or she was not born.

Your Turn

WORD MATCH

1. Cold War    A. send away
2. republic    B. cafeteria
3. immigrant   C. state
4. deport      D. new settler
5. canteen     E. nonshooting
                  conflict

Answers:

1. E

2. C

3. D

4. A

5. B

THINK ABOUT IT

1. Why do so many immigrants move to Moscow?

2. Some Russians oppose the new wave of immigrants. How does this compare to Americans' opinions about immigrants in the U.S.?

STALIN'S REIGN OF TERROR

More than 50 years after his death, Joseph Stalin still casts a long shadow over Russian history. The son of a poor shoemaker, Stalin became the all-powerful leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.). His dictatorship lasted from 1929 until 1953.

A coldly efficient ruler, Stalin turned a backward society into a military and industrial giant. Gobbling up much of Eastern Europe after World War II, he also triggered a Cold War (nonshooting conflict). During that time, the U.S. and its allies tried to halt the spread of Communism. Under Stalin's influence, II other countries adopted this form of government.

The dictator was notorious for his cruelty. His collectivization (shift from private to group ownership) of Soviet farms led to famines that killed millions of people. He sent millions of others to prisons or concentration camps, called gulags (GOO-lahgs). Many, he killed outright.

The Soviet people "lived year after year in an insane world of hysteria," wrote one historian about Stalin's reign of terror. "[Even] now the recovery has not been complete."

FACTS TO KNOW

LAND AND PEOPLE: At 6,592,819 sq mi, Russia is the world's largest country. It stretches across both Europe and Asia (see "Ask Mapman, " p. 22). But its population of 143,000,000 is only half as large as that of the U.S. (The U.S. population is 296,500,000.) Most of Russia's people live in the European part of the country, west of the Ural Mountains.

LANGUAGE: Russian is the official language. However, many of Russia's 190 ethnic minorities also speak their own languages.

POLITICAL SYSTEM: Presidential-parliamentary democracy, headed by an elected President, Vladimir Putin.

ECONOMY: Industrial nation rich in natural resources, including coal, natural gas, petroleum, metals, and timber. Only 8 percent of the land is arable (farmable).

PER CAPITA GDP *: $9,800.

RELIGION: The Russian Orthodox Church is the largest denomination.

LITERACY: Males, 99%; females, 99%.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Males, 59; females, 72.

QUESTIONS

1. What is Russia's capital city?--

2. St. Petersburg was Russia's capital from 1712 until 1918. What are that city's latitude and longitude?--

3. What is the distance in kilometers between St. Petersburg and Moscow?--

4. Which Russian seaport is located in northwestern Russia, on the Barents Sea?--

5. The Ural Mountains divide Europe and Asia. The mountains lie near which line of longitude on the map?--

6. Which Russian seaport is located on the Sea of Japan (East Sea)?--

7. The Bering Sea separates Russia and which other country?--

8. What percentage of Russia's land is arable?--

9. Which Russian city on the map is the farthest north?--

10. Which former Soviet republic is the largest?--

* GDP stands for gross domestic product; per capita means per person. This amount is the value of all items produced by the country in a year, divided by the population, and is often used as a measure of a nation's wealth.

Answers:

1. Moscow

2. 60[degrees]N, 30[degrees]E

3. about 600 kilometers

4. Murmansk

5. 60[degrees]E

6. Vladivostok

7. the United States

8. 8 percent

9. Nordvik

10. Russia

by Lucian Kim in Moscow

WORLD Russia: A Better Life?, pp. 10-13

* OBJECTIVE

Students should understand

* that many people from former Soviet republics are moving to Moscow in search of greater opportunities.

* WORD TO KNOW

Soviet Union: short form of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (also known as the U.S.S.R.).

* BACKGROUND

From the Russian Revolution of 1917 to the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Soviet republics were ruled by Communist dictators. They kept tight control, spying on their citizens and encouraging them to inform on each other. Paranoia and suspicion ran high. Anyone considered disloyal was at risk of years in brutal labor camps in the frozen-north region of Siberia, or of death.

Since 1991, Russia has had democratically elected leaders. However, many observers worry that the current President, Vladimir Putin, is taking the country back toward dictatorship. In recent years, Putin has instituted a number of measures that cut back Russians' civil and economic liberties.

* CRITICAL THINKING

RECALLING DETAILS: What has made Moscow wealthy? (exporting oil and natural gas)

COMPREHENSION: Why are immigrants considered important to Russia's economy? (to fill low-paying jobs that many Russians don't want; to make up for Russia's low birthrate)

* ACTIVITY

GETTING COLD: Have students look up, discuss, and compare information on the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. How did the rivalry between the two countries affect the lives of American and Soviet citizens? What did the two sides fear?

STANDARDS

SOCIAL STUDIES, GRADES 5-8

* Production, distribution, and consumption: How the Soviet Union's breakup affected the economies of its newly independent republics.

* Global connections: Why many people from former Soviet republics are moving to Russia.

RESOURCES

PRINT

* Feinstein, Stephen C., and Klimenko, Galina, The Soviet Union in Pictures (Lerner Publishing Group, 1989). Grades 5-8.

* Haugen, Brenda, Joseph Stalin: Dictator of the Soviet Union (Compass Point Books, 2005). Grades 5-8.

WEB SITES

* Collapse of the Soviet Union news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/europe/2001/ collapse_of_ussr/default.stm

* Embassy of the Russian Federation russianembassy.org