Russian Federation: Whether a Russian citizen currently living in Moldova, in possession of a valid external (international) USSR passport issued in 1997, who has never lived in Russia, requires relatives in Russia or needs to own property in Russia in order to have access to all the rights and obligations of full Russian citizenship; the requirements for this person to obtain a propiska
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 August 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | RUS29987.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Russian Federation: Whether a Russian citizen currently living in Moldova, in possession of a valid external (international) USSR passport issued in 1997, who has never lived in Russia, requires relatives in Russia or needs to own property in Russia in order to have access to all the rights and obligations of full Russian citizenship; the requirements for this person to obtain a propiska, 1 August 1998, RUS29987.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab31f.html [accessed 1 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 an information officer at the Consular Division of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Washington D.C., a Russian citizen living in Moldova, who has never lived in Russia and who is in possession of a valid USSR external passport that indicates the individual is a Russian citizen would be "free to move to and reside in Russia without restrictions" (11 August 1998). This information was re-confirmed by the citizenship desk of the Consular Division in a 13 August 1998 fax to the Research Directorate.
The following information was provided by Alexander Ossipov, a programme officer with the Moscow-based Memorial Human Rights Centre. Mr. Ossipov has done extensive research on the issues of citizenship and residency rights in Russia.
If a person possessed [a] Soviet external passport issued in [a] Russian Embassy that means he or she either was recognized [as a] Russian citizen or obtained Russian citizenship. In accordance with the Constitution a citizen of Russia has equal and full rights and duties regardless of the way he/she acquired citizenship (except for cases of fraud, of course) and of the place of residence. Actually, he/she may be denied propiska in some regions of Russia (Moscow, Moscow region, Krasnodar and Stavropol krais etc.) on the base of regional (not federal) laws usually unless he/she has relatives in that certain region or [is] recognized [as] a forced migrant. The lack of propiska (registration by the place of residence) actually (not legally) means, ... a real ... deprivation of almost all civil, political and social rights (11 Aug. 1998).
For further detailed information on the propiska (registration) system in Russia please see pages one to seven of Extended Response to Information Request RUS29376.EX of 27 May 1998.
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.
References
Consular Division, Embassy of the Russian Federation, Washington D.C. 13 August 1998. Fax to the Research Directorate.
_____. 11 August 1998. Telephone interview with Consulate Information Officer.
Ossipov, Alexander. 11 August 1998. E-mail communication.
