Resource Information Center: Russia

Russia

Query:

How have ethnic Russians living in Chechnya been treated by Chechen authorities and civilians? How have ethnic Russians who have fled Chechnya been treated upon their attempt to resettle in larger cities of the Russian Federation?

Response:

For information on the treatment of ethnic Russians in Chechnya and their experiences in trying to resettle in the larger, predominantly ethnic Russian cities of the Russian Federation, please consult the attached sources. Together these sources reflect the following situation: 1) that a person of Russian descent living in Chechnya before, during, or after the war (December 1994-early fall of 1996) could very likely have experienced harassment from the Chechen authorities or civilians; 2) that a person migrating to Moscow (or other cities of the Federation) might encounter some difficulties in resettling; 3) but that most of the experiences of these people moving into a Russian city do not rise to the level of systematic persecution by the government of the Russian Federation (DIRB 25 August 1997).

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RIC within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Attachments:

The Baltimore Sun. 19 May 1997. Clara Germani. "Russia, Home of Legal Non-entities." (NEXIS).

Documentation, Information, and Research Branch (DIRB), Immigration and Refugee Board, Ottawa. 25 August 1997. Response to Information Request RUS27479.

Documentation, Information, and Research Branch (DIRB), Immigration and Refugee Board, Ottawa. 2 May 1994. Response to Information Request RUS17210.

Inter Press Service [Moscow]. 2 February 1998. Andrei Ivanov and Judith Perera. "Migration -- Russia: Millions on the Move Though Refugee Crisis Eases." (NEXIS).

Moscow Times. 4 February 1998. Andrei Zolotov, Jr. "Court Takes Step Toward Dismantling Propiska." (NEXIS).

Obshchaya Gazeta [Moscow, Russian]. 27 February - 5 March 1997. "BETRAYED THREE TIMES. -- 140,000 Russian Citizens Are Now Doomed to a Struggle for Survival." (Current Digest of the Post-Soviet Press, 19 March 1997, NEXIS).

Official Kremlin News Broadcast. 14 April 1998. "Press Conference with Presidential Human Rights Commission Chair." (NEXIS).

Open Media Research Institute Russian Regional Report [Prague]. 20 February 1997. "Update on Ethnic Russian Migration from Chechnya." [Internet] <URL: http://search.omri.cz/bin/SearchList.html $ID=22509&Page=1&Max=25&Bool=true> from [Internet] <URL: http://www.omri.cz> [Accessed on 24 June 1998].

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Research Institute. 28 May 1998. RFE/RL Newsline [Prague]. Vol. 2, No. 101. "Moscow Court Defies Higher Court Ruling on Residence Permits."

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Research Institute. 1 July 1994. RFE/RL Research Report [Munich]. Vol. 3, No. 26. Wendy Slater. "The Problem of Immigration into Russia."

TASS [Moscow]. 13 February 1998. Lilya Kuznetsova. "Federal Migration Service Discusses Caucasus Situation." (NEXIS).

TASS [Moscow]. 7 October 1997. Ivan Novikov. "Duma to Discuss Forced Migration from Chechnya." (NEXIS).

TASS [Stavropol]. 7 August 1997. Nikolai Styazhkin. "Another 4,000 Leave Chechnya Fleeing Harassment." (NEXIS).

TASS [Moscow]. 14 February 1998. Natalia Panshina. "Migration Official Says Chechnya Almost Clear of Russians." (NEXIS).