Eurasia
Introduction
Free movement in the Eurasian region has been non-uniform, with some countries engaging more deeply in the free movement of people, while others have not. In this context, we define Eurasia as those nations that have previously been part of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Thus, our analysis includes 12 countries from the former Soviet Union: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are excluded from this analysis as they are part of the European Union.
While the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a regional organisation formed following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, has long promoted regional cooperation, it has not established a free movement regime through its various treaties; therefore, it is not analysed in our project.
The initial formal efforts toward deeper regional integration were initiated by the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC), which ultimately provided the foundation for the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Signed in Astana on 29 May 2014 and coming into effect on 1 January 2015, the EAEU created a legal framework for the unrestricted movement of goods, services, capital, and labour among its member states, initially including Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia, later joined by Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. The EAEU continues to be the most institutionalised framework governing free movement in the region.
Beyond multilateral frameworks, Russia and Belarus have forged the most advanced bilateral regime through the Union State, established by a treaty in 1999. In force since January 2000, this agreement guarantees reciprocal rights to reside, work, study, and own property in either country without having to undergo immigration procedures. This arrangement stands out as the only fully operational bilateral free movement regime in Eurasia.
In the 1990s, other bilateral agreements were signed between Russia and several neighbouring states, including Russia-Kazakhstan (1995) and Russia-Armenia (1997). However, these focused primarily on regulating the legal status of individuals with permanent residence in the partner country. These agreements did not establish reciprocal rights of mobility and are therefore not included in the Freemove project.
Further reading:
Maksim Karliuk (2024), The Emerging Autonomous Legal Order of the Eurasian Economic Union, Cambridge University Press.
Diego Acosta (2021), ‘Free Movement of People at Global Level: The Case of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)’, Kutafin Law Review, 9(4), pp. 602-625.
Benedikt Pirker and Kirill Entin (2020) “The Free Movement of Persons in the Eurasian Economic Union – between Civis Eurasiaticus and Homo Oeconomicus” in Nathan Cambien, Dimitry Kochenov and Elise Muir, European Citizenship under Stress. Social Justice, Brexit and Other Challenges, Brill, Nijhoff, Leiden, pp. 508-532.
Andrey Leonov and Oleg Korneev (2019), ´Regional migration governance in the Eurasian migration system´ in Andrew Geddes, Marcia Vera Espinoza, Leila Hadj Abdou, and Leiza Brumat (eds.), The Dynamics of Regional Migration Governance, Edward Elgar, pp, 205-223.
Irina Molodikova (2017), ‘Two Decades of CIS Coexistence: The Transformation of the Visa-Free Movement’, in S. Nita, A. Pécoud, P. De Lombaerde, P. de Guchteneire, K. Neyts and J. Gartland (eds.), Migration, Free Movement and Regional Integration, UNESCO, Paris, 313-344.
Belarus-Russia
Bilateral in force
Belarus and Russia signed a Treaty on the Formation of an Association between the two countries in 1996. This was followed in 1997 by the signing of the Treaty of Union. This document was established to create a Union between the two states and aimed to set up a common legal system, including the free movement of people.
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Eurasian Economic Union
Multilateral in force
The Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was signed in Astana on 29 May 2014, establishing a regional economic bloc aimed at fostering deeper economic integration among its member states. The Treaty came into force on 1 January 2015, with Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus as the original founding members. Shortly thereafter, Armenia acceded to the Union on 2 February 2015, followed by Kyrgyzstan, which obtained full membership on 12 August 2015. The EAEU seeks to create a common market, ensuring the free movement of goods, services, capital, and labour across member states.
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EURASEC
Multilateral not in force
The Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) was established by Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan as a regional organisation to enhance economic integration. It was founded on the Agreement on the Customs Union and Common Economic Zone, signed in Moscow on 26 February 1999, and was formally launched with the signing of the Treaty on the Establishment of EurAsEC in Astana on 10 October 2000. The Treaty came into force on 30 May 2001.