Yugoslavia: Information on the Ruthenian minority in Serbia and on an organization called Ruthenian Culture and Tradition
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | YUG16511.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Yugoslavia: Information on the Ruthenian minority in Serbia and on an organization called Ruthenian Culture and Tradition, 1 February 1994, YUG16511.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab8224.html [accessed 2 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. |
According to World Directory of Minorities, there are 23,286 Rutherians in Yugoslavia, most of them (19,305) concentrated in the province of Vojvodina (1990, 139), where they represent 1.24 per cent of the population (Frémy 1994, 1186).
According to a representative of the Committee to Help Ruthenians in the Former Yugoslavia, Ruthenians in Serbia live in fear (11 Feb. 1994). He stated that their treatment include harassment, vocal threats and forced displacement by Serbs (ibid.). He also indicated that a number of Ruthenian men are forced to join the Serbian army and often are positioned on the front lines (ibid.).
A number of sources report incidents of forced displacement and harassment of non-Serbs in the Serbian provinces, including Ruthenians (Country Reports 1992 1993, 901-02; Helsinki Watch July 1993, 5-6; Human Rights Watch 1993, 264). Please consult the attached documents for further information on these incidents.
Information on the organization Ruthenian Culture and Tradition is currently unavailable to the DIRB in Ottawa.
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
Committee to Help Ruthenians in the Former Yugoslavia, Toronto. 11 February 1994. Telephone interview with representative.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1992. 1993. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Frémy, Dominique and Michèle. 1993. Quid 1994. Paris: Editions Robert Laffont.
Human Rights Watch. December 1992. Human Rights World Report 1993. New York: Human Rights Watch.
Minority Rights Group. World Directory of Minorities. 1990. London: Longman Grooup UK Ltd.
News from Helsinki Watch [New York]. July 1993. Vol. 5, No. 11. "Abuses Continue in the Former Yugoslavia: Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Hercegovina."
Attachments
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1992. 1993. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Frémy, Dominique and Michèle. 1993. Quid 1994. Paris: Editions Robert Laffont.
Human Rights Watch. December 1992. Human Rights World Report 1993. New York: Human Rights Watch.
Minority Rights Group. World Directory of Minorities. 1990. London: Longman Grooup UK Ltd.
News from Helsinki Watch [New York]. July 1993. Vol. 5, No. 11. "Abuses Continue in the Former Yugoslavia: Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Hercegovina."
