Document #1343840
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
According to a staff member of the
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) in
Washington, the relationship between Chechnya and Russia generally
and regarding Chechnya's independence has not changed very much in
the past several months (30 Nov. 1993). Russia maintains that
Chechnya is still part of the Russian Federation (AFP 9 Nov. 1993;
Russian Press Digest 12 Nov. 1993). President Dudayev, who declared
Chechnya independent in October 1991 (AFP 9 Nov. 1993), maintains
that it is an independent state (Izvestiya 21 Aug.
1993).
The CSCE staff member said that a recent
trip by Dudayev to Jordan sparked a protest by the Russian
government, which was displeased by the level of reception afforded
Dudayev by King Hussein (30 Nov. 1993). Russia's draft constitution
reportedly includes Chechnya as one of the 89 "subjects" of the
Russian Federation (AFP 9 Nov. 1993), and this has evoked a protest
from the Chechen authorities (CSCE staff member 30 Nov. 1993). The
CSCE staff member added that Chechnya has drafted two treaties
which Russia has firmly rejected (Ibid.).
The upcoming Russian elections have caused
tension between Russia and Chechnya. The Chechen government has
stated that Chechnya will not take part in the elections (TASS 20
Oct. 1993). Reportedly, residents of Chechnya who wish to vote will
be required to cross the border into Stavropol Kray in order to
cast their ballots (CSCE staff member 30 Nov. 1993).
The staff member of the CSCE stated that at
the present time Chechnya does not have citizenship legislation.
Its residents hold Russian passports and must have Russian visas to
leave and return to Russia (and thereby Chechnya) (30 Nov.
1993).
For additional information on relations
between Russia and Chechnya, please see the attached articles.
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.
Agence France Presse (AFP). 9 November
1993. "Russia Moves to Reassert Authority over Chechnya."
(NEXIS)
Izvestiya [Moscow, in Russian].
21 August 1993. Nikolay Gritchin. "Dudayev Reaffirms Chechnya's
Independence." (FBIS-SOV-93-167 31 Aug. 1993, pp. 35-36)
Russian Press Digest. 12 November 1993.
Natalia Gorodetskaya. "Chechnya Does Not Want to Obey Moscow
Mayor." (NEXIS)
Staff member, Commission on Security and
Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), Washington, DC. 30 November 1993.
Telephone interview.
The Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union
(TASS). 20 October 1993. Galina Sugak. "Moscow Mayor Says Chechens
to Be Treated as Foreigners." (NEXIS)
Agence France Presse (AFP). 9 November
1993. "Russia Moves to Reassert Authority over Chechnya."
(NEXIS)
Izvestiya [Moscow, in Russian].
21 August 1993. Nikolay Gritchin. "Dudayev Reaffirms Chechnya's
Independence." (FBIS-SOV-93-167 31 Aug. 1993, pp. 35-36)
Nezavisimaya Gazeta [Moscow, in
Russian]. 7 July 1993. Natalya Pachegina. "Chechen Opposition Chief
on Current Situation." (FBIS-SOV-93-097, pp. 46-47)
Obshchaya Gazeta [Moscow, in
Russian]. 23 April 1993. Akardiy Popov. "Political Conflict in
Chechnya, Russia Compared." (FBIS-SOV-93-068 1 June 1993, p.
48)
Rossiskaya Gazeta [Moscow, in
Russian]. 26 June 1993. "Deputy on Confrontation in Chechen
Republic." (FBIS-SOV-93-089 16 July 1993, pp. 46-48)
_____. 10 June 1993. Aleksandr Aleshkin.
"Political Developments in Chechnya Examined." (FBIS-SOV-93-078 23
June 1993, pp. 60-61)
Russian Press Digest. 12 November 1993.
Natalia Gorodetskaya. "Chechnya Does Not Want to Obey Moscow
Mayor." (NEXIS)
The Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union
(TASS). 20 October 1993. Galina Sugak. "Moscow Mayor Says Chechens
to Be Treated as Foreigners." (NEXIS)