Document #1203367
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
In a telephone interview on 3 May 1994, a
specialist on Moldova for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
provided the following information. Interfront or Intermovement was
organized in 1988-89 by the Communist parties in many of the
republics of the Soviet Union (ibid.). In Lithuania and Latvia the
movement was called "Interfront or Intermovement," and in Estonia
and Moldova, the "Internationalist Movement for Unity" (ibid.). The
movement aimed to unite Russians and other non-natives to resist
the independence movements in the Soviet republics (ibid.).
The same source further indicated that the
Internationalist Movement for Unity, also known as Edinsvo,
was established in Moldova in 1989; it became inactive in 1991, but
recently made a comeback after it registered as a political party
in late 1993 (ibid.). Edinsvo formed a political bloc with
the Socialist Party and other small political groups, opposing
privatization and advocating state control over the economy and on
alliance with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (ibid.).
The source indicated that in the 27 February 1994 multi-party
elections, the coalition won 26 or 27 per cent of the vote (ibid.);
Le Devoir indicates that the bloc obtained 20 per cent of
the vote, while The New York Times puts the figure at 25 per
cent (1 Mar. 1994; 1 Mar. 1994).
For further information on the
Internationalist Movement for Unity, please consult the attached
documents and Response to Information Request MDA13195.E of 17
February 1993.
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.
Le Devoir [Montréal]. 1
March 1994. "Les électeurs rejettent l'unification avec la
Roumanie."
The New York Times. 1 March 1994.
"Party Favouring Ties with Russia Builds Lead in Moldova
Elections."
Specialist on Moldova, Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Munich. 3 May 1994. Telephone
interview.
Le Devoir [Montréal]. 1
March 1994. "Les électeurs rejettent l'unification avec la
Roumanie."
The New York Times. 1 March 1994.
"Party Favouring Ties with Russia Builds Lead in Moldova
Elections."
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
(RFE/RL). 11 March 1994. Report on Eastern Europe [Munich].
Vol. 3, No. 10. Vladimir Socor. "Moldova's Political Landscape:
Profiles of the Parties," p. 13.