According to the Consul of Estonia in New York City, the Congress of Estonia emerged as a grassroots movement that was not satisfied with the continued existence of the Supreme Soviet of Estonia, a remnant of the administrative system of the Soviet occupation (30 Sept. 1993). A citizens' movement gathered approximately 700,000 signatures, mostly from persons who could claim Estonian citizenship and non-Estonians who wanted to be part of the country when independence was to be regained (Ibid.). The Congress of Estonia was elected in March 1990, the same month the Supreme Soviet of Estonia was elected (although under the new name of Supreme Council). Both continued to exist until the 20 September 1992 elections (Ibid.). The 1992 elections gave Estonia a new president and a single Parliament. Members and supporters of the Congress of Estonia reportedly regarded the president and Parliament as freely-elected representatives of a new Estonian system, and thus the Congress ceased to exist after the September 1992 elections (Ibid.).

The attached documents provide additional references to the Congress of Estonia. One of the attachments provides detailed information on the results of the September 1992 elections. The other two discuss the previous political system, stating that the Congress of Estonia was elected by citizens of pre-invasion Estonia and their descendants and adding that the Congress provided 30 delegates to the 60-member Constituent Assembly established in August 1990 (East European Reporter Jan.-Feb. 1992, 41; Political Handbook of the World: 1992 1992, 242). One of the sources states that the Supreme Council was the country's effective parliament responsible for the "pragmatic tackling of day-to-day questions", while the Congress was "seen more as a pressure group," "noted more for its criticizing and offering of solutions without practical application" (East European Reporter Jan.-Feb. 1992, 41).

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.

Consulate of Estonia, New York City. 30 September 1993. Telephone interview with Consul.

East European Reporter [Budapest]. January-February 1992. Vol. 5, No. 1. Tarmu Tammerk. "Shaking Off the Soviet Legacy."

Political Handbook of the World: 1992. 1992. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

East European Reporter [Budapest]. January-February 1992. Vol. 5, No. 1. Tarmu Tammerk. "Shaking Off the Soviet Legacy," pp. 40-41.

Political Handbook of the World: 1992. 1992. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications, p. 242.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Research Institute. 20 November 1992. RFE/RL Research Report [Munich]. Vol. 1, No. 46. Riina Kionka. "Free-Market Coalition Assumes Power in Estonia," pp. 6-10.