Cynthia Kaplan, who is Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science at the University of California, states that following Estonia's independence, the "conservative/Orthodox" organizations of the non-Estonian community and the Communist party of Estonia were disbanded (1993, 218).

According to TASS, the Charter of the Assembly of the Russian-Speaking population was registered on 6 July 1993 (6 July 1993). TASS indicates that the Assembly represents all strata of the Russian-speaking population (500,000), is the only officially recognized organization of the "not indigenous population," and aims to protect and promote the interests of the Russian-speaking community in Estonia (ibid.).

The Estonian Radio reports the existence of an organization called the Russian Citizens' Union in Narva led by Yuriy Mishin and highly regarded by Petr Rozhok (Zhirinovsky's representative in Estonia) (BBC 3 Feb. 1994).

The New York Times mentions the existence of a club of army veterans, and of the Association of the Russian-speaking Population, led by Nikolai A. Yugantsev, which has offices at the Tallinn Garrison's Officers Club (1 July 1994). It is unclear whether the Association is the same as the Assembly mentioned above.

Further information on political organizations and cultural associations of ethnic minorities can also be found in the attached document send by the Consulate General of Estonia in Toronto (9 Aug. 1994).

For information on human rights of Russians in Estonia, please consult the attached document entitled Human Rights and Democratization in Estonia. Country Reports 1993 also contains information on the situation of Russian-speakers, particularly on page 865, and the Question and Answer Series entitled Estonia: Ethnic Minorities of November 1992, both are available at your Regional Documentation Centre.

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 Broadcast. 3 February 1994. "Zhirinovxkiy Spokesman Calls for Defence Units, Calls Estonia Russian Territory." (NEXIS)

Kaplan, Cynthia. 1993. "Estonia: A Plural Society on the Road to Independence," Nation and Politics in the Soviet Successor States. Edited by Ian Bremmer and Ray Taras. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

The New York Times. 1 July 1994. Steven Erlanger. "Russians in Estonia Feel Lost in a Baltic Limbo." (NEXIS)

The Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union (TASS). 6 July 1993. Albert Maloveryan. "Assembly of the Russian-Speaking Population Set Up in Estonia." (NEXIS)

. 1 July 1993. Albert Maloveryan."Estonian Cabinet to Debate Russian-Speaking Assembly." (NEXIS)

Attachments

BBC Summary of World Broadcast. 3 February 1994. "Zhirinovkiy Spokesman Calls for Defence Units, Calls Estonia Russian Territory." (NEXIS)

. 4 February 1993. "Russian Representative Assembly Set Up." (NEXIS)

Consulate General of Estonia, Toronto. 8 August 1994. Document faxed to the DIRB.

Human Rights and Democratization in Estonia. September 1993. Washington, DC: Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Kaplan, Cynthia. 1993. "Estonia: A Plural Society on the Road to independence," Nation and Politics in the Soviet Successor States. Edited by Ian Bremmer and Ray Taras. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

The New York Times. 1 July 1994. Steven Erlanger. "Russians in Estonia Feel Lost in a Baltic Limbo." (NEXIS)

The Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union (TASS). 6 July 1993. Albert Maloveryan. "Assembly of the Russian-Speaking Population Set Up in Estonia." (NEXIS)

. 1 July 1993. Albert Maloveryan."Estonain Cabinet to Debate Russian-Speaking Assembly." (NEXIS)