For information on the total number of persons registered and recognized as refugees by the UNHCR in Moscow who come from Newly Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union and other countries (referred to as non-NIS), please consult the attached UNHCR document.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Moscow indicated that there is currently no system in place to register refugees or displaced persons in Russia (5 Mar. 1994). However, quoting the Federal Migration Service in Moscow, the IOM reports 450-500,000 refugees from non-NIS, and 2-2.5 million "forced migrants" (ibid.). The latter estimate includes only forced migrants from within Russia and other NIS. The IOM further indicated that the UNHCR in Moscow is the only office currently registering refugees, and that the UNHCR's current estimate of the number of refugees is 180,000 (ibid.). In addition, the IOM indicated that in Russia, the legal basis for "forced migrants" and "refugees" is set up to maximize assistance to the former and minimize assistance to the latter (ibid.). The IOM could no provide specific data on "forced migrants" from the Baltic States.

In The Refugee Crisis in Russia, the authors interviewed 22 specialists on refugees in Russia (1993, 8). In answering questions on how many refugees and involuntary migrants are currently in Russia, assessments by the specialists varied from 315,054 refugees, the official figure for the summer of 1992, to 2 million. Several reasons are provided by the authors to explain discrepancies in the statistics. They include: (1) unregistered refugees not included in official statistics; (2) absence of a local information-collecting system in Russia; (3) constant change in the number of refugees; and (4) acknowledgement of only certain regions when providing figures on the number of refugees (ibid., 9).

On the ethnic composition of refugees, the specialists interviewed indicate that the "refugee-producing regions" are constantly fluctuating (ibid., 10). Initially, Tajikistan, the Baltics, Azerbaijan and Armenia were the primary sources of incoming refugees, but most recently, "refugee-producing regions" include Georgia, Moldova and Abkhasia (ibid.). The Baltic States and Kazakhstan have continued to be regions of out-migration of ethnic Russians since 1991 (ibid.). For specific on registered refugees in Russia by ethnic origin, please consult the attached documents.

On the forecasts of Russians migrating in the 1990's, please consult the attached document entitled "Will a Large-Scale Migration of Russians to the Soviet Republic Take Place Over the Current Decade?" in International Migration Review.

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.

International Organization for Migration (IOM), Moscow. 5 March 1994. Telephone interview with representative.

International Migration Review [New York]. Fall 1993. Vol. 27, No. 3. John B. Dunlop. "Will a Large-Scale Migration of Russians to the Soviet Republic Take Place Over the Current Decade?"

Ryvkina, Rozalina and Rostilav Turovskiy. 1993. The Refugee Crisis in Russia. Toronto: York Lanes Press.

UNHCR, Moscow. 3 March 1994. "Statistical Data on Refugees and Displaced Persons in Russia." (UNHCR database)

International Migration Review [New York]. Fall 1993. Vol. 27, No. 3. John B. Dunlop. "Will a Large-Scale Migration of Russians to the Soviet Republic Take Place Over the Current Decade?"

Ryvkina, Rozalina and Rostilav Turovskiy. 1993. The Refugee Crisis in Russia. Toronto: York Lanes Press.

Nezavisimaya Gazeta [Moscow, in Russian]. 23 April 1993. "Russia Unprepared to Meet 'Commitments' to Refugees." (FBIS-USR-93-064 19 May 1993, pp. 40-42)

UNHCR, Moscow. 3 March 1994. "Statistical Data on Refugees and Displaced Persons in Russia." (UNHCR database)