The fall of the Soviet Union in 1989, closely followed by the Independence Movement in 1991 were seen by many Moldovans as a grand opening of the long inaccessible western world. As was the case for many ex-soviet countries, having been dependent solely on the Russian market as outlet for local products, any crisis hitting the Russian market would eventually extend to the Moldovan market, making emigration more attractive than ever before. The sudden freedom of movement across borders into the EU, together with the increasingly complicated economic context back at home gave birth to a migratory trend that to this day is still causing significant disturbances in the Moldovan economy, draining the country of one of its most valuable resources: human capital. Read the policy brief, written by Ana-Andreea Hmelic, to find out more!