Tajikistan: Treatment of ethnic Russians (1998-1999)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TJT31142.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Tajikistan: Treatment of ethnic Russians (1998-1999), 1 February 1999, TJT31142.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abce18.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Current information on the treatment of ethnic Russians is scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. In a telephone interview with the Research Directorate the Human Rights Watch/Helsinki representative in Dushanbe stated that the ethnic Russians are not specifically targeted for harassment or discrimination in Tajikistan, and that in fact, very few Russians remain (10 Feb. 1999). However, the representative added that elderly Russian pensioners who lacked the support of an extended family were under considerable duress owing to the unavailability of social services. The representative also stated that single Russian women were vulnerable for the same reasons. As a general comment, the representative also stated that state protection in Tajikistan is inadequate (ibid.).
No media reports of ill treatment of ethnic Russians in Tajikistan could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, in a radio interview on 22 January 1998 on Radiostantsiya Ekho Moskvy, with Tatyana Regent, head of the Russian Federal Migration Service it was reported that between 50,000 and 60,000 Russians intended to leave Tajikistan within the next few years. ITAR-TASS reported on 27 January 1998 that the Secretary of the Russian Security Council, Ivan Rybkin, expressed concern over the position of Russian minorities in former Soviet republics, including Tajikistan.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate 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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Human Rights Watch. 10 February 1999. Telephone interview with representative.
ITAR-TASS [Moscow, in English]. 27 January 1998. "Security Council's Rybkin Meets OSCE Ethnic Envoy." (FBIS-SOV-98-027 27 Jan. 1998/WNC)
Radiostantsiya Ekho Moskvy [Moscow, in Russian]. 22 January 1998. "Official Comments on Refugees from CIS Countries in Russia." (FBIS-SOV-98-022 22 Jan. 1998/WNC)
Additional Sources Consulted
News from Helsinki Watch. 1998.
Tajikistan: Refugee Reintegration and Conflict Prevention. September 1998. Open Society Institute, Forced Migration Projects. [Internet]
Resource Centre Amnesty International File on Tajikistan. 1998-1999.
Resource Centre Country File on Tajikistan. 1998-1999.
Electronic sources: IRB Databases, Internet, LEXIS/NEXIS, REFWORLD, WNC.
