Research 404: What Have We Learned About Ourselves, Science, and Anthrozoolological Methodology by Studying Relocants

Abstract

This article presents a reflexive account of an exploratory anthrozoological study on the relocation of Russians with pets after February 2022. The authors question not only the empirical findings but also the very possibility of conducting such research within the stated framework. Based on 26 biographical interviews with relocants who moved primarily to Serbia, Germany, Armenia, and other countries, the authors arrive at an unexpected conclusion: contrary to initial expectations, the procedure for transporting animals does not reveal systemic bureaucratic failures, and pets do not play a significant role in the social integration of migrants, since most relocants do not seek integration into the host society, preferring to remain within the Russian-speaking diaspora. The bulk of empirical observations amounts to anecdotal cases — from species-based discrimination in the rental housing market to fears about European veterinary care. In two reflexive essays, the authors analyse the reasons for the methodological failure: an erroneous focus on human-bureaucracy relations instead of human-animal relations, the neglect of pet agency, sampling bias (the absence of interviews with those who left their animals behind in Russia), and the influence of academic infrastructures that push researchers toward seeking sensational results. Ultimately, the article transforms from a research report into a self-analysis of the limits of anthrozoological methodology and a critique of conference culture that predetermines research expectations. The authors conclude that the absence of a «sensation» itself becomes a meaningful outcome, prompting a reconsideration of research heuristics.  

For citation: Lopatko, S., Ivanov, P. (2026) Research 404: What Have We Learned About Ourselves, Science, and Anthrozoolological Methodology by Studying Relocants. Russia’s Directions. Vol. 4. No. 3. P. 115–133.

Additional Info

Submitted: June 2, 2026

Copyright: © Auhtors, 2026

Distribution: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)