I read about a remarkable political event with enormous, enormous pleasure:
No, this is not DPNI (the Movement Against Illegal Immigration) or far-right activists. It is not the LDPR (Liberal Democratic Party of Russia) or the Rodina movement. It is the pillar and hope of liberal economic thought, Higher School of Economics rector Yaroslav Ivanovich Kuzminov, carrying out a raid against undocumented migrants living in abandoned houses. The operation is described on his campaign page, "Kuzminov's Team."
I love this sort of thing. A genuine clash between the academic approach and harsh real-life realities, in which reality wins triumphantly.
When it comes to writing reports for the government and giving lectures at HSE, mass migration to Russia is always presented as a positive phenomenon. But when it is time to win an election, suddenly it is night raids, journalists, sullen Uzbeks standing against a wall, camera floodlights illuminating their faces.
The text of the statement does, to be fair, include the caveat "we are not against migrants" along with the eternal "however, employers must...," but the overall staging and the press conference held against the backdrop of detained Central Asian residents leave no doubt about the "sentiments this candidate is trying to appeal to".
I do not condemn him at all; he is right to try to play on this issue—the problem is real, and voters are complaining. I will even admit that I was wrong when I wrote, "Kuzminov will not run a real campaign." He is running one: he goes to debates, meets with voters, and, well, chases migrants around. I just cannot resist a bit of sarcasm.
I wonder whether Yaroslav Ivanovich's colleagues at HSE will write their usual flood of columns explaining that migrants' willingness to live in condemned houses slated for demolition while surviving on instant noodles (Doshirak, a popular instant ramen brand) is their unique competitive advantage in the labor market, allowing entrepreneurs to cut business costs. And that the invisible hand of the market will put those uncompetitive fools from Vologda and Saransk in their place—those who want to come work in Moscow only on the condition that they can rent decent housing. While nighttime press briefings staged in front of captured undocumented migrants are, of course, fascism, populism, and a failure to understand the basics of economics.
And of course, I want to remind you that all these flashy nighttime raids against migrants are completely pointless until we adopt the basic decisions and measures needed to limit uncontrolled migration from Central Asia and the South Caucasus into Russia. Introducing a visa regime is the main one. It is a pity that Yaroslav Ivanovich does not acknowledge this, focusing instead on special effects.
We have only 17 days left to collect the remaining 27,000 votes needed to force the government to respond publicly on this issue. That will be very difficult, so vote right now.
And anyone who argues with you, send them straight to the HSE rector giving nighttime commentary during an anti-migrant raid.