Estonia: Information on the registration of aliens pursuant to the implementation of the Law of Aliens of June 1993, including the number of non-citizens registered, the number of individuals who have refused to register, the procedures involved and delays

An August 1993 report states that the Estonian government began drafting bills to implement the Law of Aliens which was passed in July 1993 (ETA 5 Aug. 1993). The report stated that the bills are intended to regulate "the order of issuing work and residence permits to aliens", "the order of counting Russian military personnel staying in Estonia", and the issuing of "Nansen's" or aliens' passports (ibid.). The report stated that the bills would be presented to the parliament "in a few weeks" (ibid.). For a copy of the 21 September 1993 decree on the procedures for issuing and extending residence and work permits for aliens, please see the attached article from Rahva Haal.

According to a BBC report, the final procedures for issuing permanent residence permits were not drawn up until February 1994 (BBC Summary 11 May 1994), and the government started to issue permits on 15 February 1994 (ibid. 19 Feb. 1994). A copy of the final procedures could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB.

According to a representative of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in Munich non-citizens in Estonia must register as aliens with the Ministry of the Interior (6 May 1994). He stated that non-citizens are obliged to complete an application form and prove they have resided in the country for a specified period of time (ibid.). The source stated that proof of residence can normally be established through old Soviet registration records but that the names of many Russian defence industry workers in Estonia do not appear on these records (ibid.). The source did not know what other documentation, if any, is required to register as an alien (ibid.).

According to representative of the International Organization for Migration in Helsinki, the government originally established a 12 July 1994 deadline for non-citizens to apply for alien status and stated that those failing to do so would be declared illegal aliens (6 May 1994). He added that legislation permitting the removal of illegal aliens has yet to be put into effect and that the 12 July 1994 deadline has been extended (ibid.). He stated that the government has extended the deadline due to technical delays and complications such as a lack of computer equipment (ibid.). The representative of RFE/RL stated that the deadline for registration has been extended to June 1995 and that financial difficulties were also responsible for the extension (6 May 1994).

Information on the numbers of non-citizens who are currently registered or who have refused to register as aliens could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB.

For additional information on the implementation of the registration of aliens in Estonia, please refer to the attached documents.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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.

References

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 11 May 1994. "Officials Accuse Each Other over Slow Issue of Residence Permits to Russians." (NEXIS)

. 19 February 1994. "Round Table Urges Postponement of Issue of Aliens' Permits." (NEXIS)

ETA News Release [Tallinn, in English]. 5 August 1993. "Government Drafting Bills to Implement Aliens Law." (FBIS-SOV-93-150 6 Aug. 1993, p. 51)

International Organization for Migration, Helsinki. 6 May 1994. Telephone interview with representative.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Munich. 6 May 1994. Telephone interview with representative.

Attachments

Agence France Presse. 22 June 1993. "Estonian, Russian Tension Possible over Citizenship Law." (NEXIS)

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 11 May 1994. "Officials Accuse Each Other over Slow Issue of Residence Permits to Russians." (NEXIS)

. 5 May 1994. "EU Dissatisfied with Pace of Aliens Law Application." (NEXIS)

. 4 May 1994. Estonian Premier: Majority of Pre-1990 Aliens to Get Residence Permits." (NEXIS) . 19 February 1994. "Round Table Urges Postponement of Issue of Aliens' Permits." (NEXIS)

. 3 January 1994. "Ministry Corrects Announcement on Re-Registration of Former USSR Passports. " (NEXIS)

. 24 December 1993. "Former USSR Passports Re-Registered." (NEXIS)

. 4 December 1993. "Procedures for Illegal Immigrants and Detention Camps." (NEXIS)

. 20 August 1993. "CSCE Urges Foreigners to Register for Elections; More Offices for Registration." (NEXIS)

. 8 July 1993. "Estonia; Migration Department 'Will Need More Money' to Cope with New Law." (NEXIS)

Current Digest of the Post-Soviet Press. 16 February 1994. "The Estonian Government Has Established the Procedures for Issuing Residence Permits..." (NEXIS)

. 11 August 1993. "Estonia: The Law on Foreigners Will No Longer Be Retroactive..." (NEXIS)

. 21 July 1993. "Estonia Warned on Restricting Russians' Rights..." (NEXIS)

ETA News Release [Tallinn, in English]. 5 August 1993. "Government Drafting Bills to Implement Aliens Law." (FBIS-SOV-93-150 6 Aug. 1993, p. 51)

Moscow News. July 7 1993. "Two Weeks in the Life of Foreigners in Estonia." (NEXIS)

Rahva Haal [Tallin, in Estonian]. 14 October 1993. "Decree on Living and Work Permits for Aliens." (FBIS-USR-93-156 13 Dec. 1993, pp. 74-76)

TASS. 14 February 1994. "Estonia Starts Receiving Residence Applications." (NEXIS)

. 29 November 1993. "Estonia Gives Residence Permit to Retired Servicemen." (NEXIS)

The Times [London]. 28 June 1993. Anatol Lieven. "Estonia Gives Way on Law over Russian Minority." (NEXIS)

United Press International. 8 July 1993. BC Cycle. Guy Chazan. "Estonian Parliament Amends and Readopts Alien Law." (NEXIS)