Former Soviet Union

Background
For most of its 125-year history, HIAS assisted Jewish refugees and migrants from the area known consecutively as the Russian Empire, the USSR, and now the Newly-Independent States of the former Soviet Union.

The region’s wars, revolutions and dictatorships of the last century forced millions of Jewish immigrants to other countries, and HIAS has been helping them to escape persecution and find better lives. During the last 20 years HIAS assisted more than 400,000 Jews from the former Soviet Union in starting a new life in the United States.

The Former Soviet Union Today
The region’s tumultuous history continues: after the fall of the USSR, unstable political, social and economic conditions in many countries of the former Soviet Union have fed armed conflicts, civil strife and extreme forms of nationalism and xenophobia. Thus, the fear that many Jews and other minorities have for the future continues to precipitate immigration. The region is also subject to a variety of sizable internal migratory movements, as well as migrations from problem areas in Asia and Africa.

Services
HIAS monitors conditions in the region that affect emigration of Jews and other vulnerable groups, and brings specific problems to the attention of appropriate international and governmental organizations. Using HIAS’ expertise on a wide range of migration issues, our offices in Moscow and Kiev implement several specific programs providing refugees with much-needed information and legal assistance.

Find Family Domestic International
Chad Former Soviet Union Kyiv Moscow Israel & the Middle East Kenya Latin America Vienna	Former Soviet Union Background For most of its 125-year history, HIAS assisted Jewish refugees and migrants from the area known consecutively as the Russian Empire, the USSR, and now the Newly-Independent States of the former Soviet Union. The region’s wars, revolutions and dictatorships of the last century forced millions of Jewish immigrants to other countries, and HIAS has been helping them to escape persecution and find better lives. During the last 20 years HIAS assisted more than 400,000 Jews from the former Soviet Union in starting a new life in the United States. The Former Soviet Union Today The region’s tumultuous history continues: after the fall of the USSR, unstable political, social and economic conditions in many countries of the former Soviet Union have fed armed conflicts, civil strife and extreme forms of nationalism and xenophobia. Thus, the fear that many Jews and other minorities have for the future continues to precipitate immigration. The region is also subject to a variety of sizable internal migratory movements, as well as migrations from problem areas in Asia and Africa. Services HIAS monitors conditions in the region that affect emigration of Jews and other vulnerable groups, and brings specific problems to the attention of appropriate international and governmental organizations. Using HIAS’ expertise on a wide range of migration issues, our offices in Moscow and Kiev implement several specific programs providing refugees with much-needed information and legal assistance.