12/28/2004

"Most people realize you must take the Estonian citizenship because there is no other way." Dressed in a dark suit and with a quiet smile, Ivan told Refugees International about the bureaucratic process for stateless Russians to gain Estonian citizenship in a country where the two cultures do not mix.

When Estonia re-gained independence in 1991, an estimated third of the people living there were a Russian-speaking minority who had been forced to migrate there from other Soviet republics.  They are still considered "aliens with undetermined citizenship" and today number about 160,000.  It is difficult for these people to get jobs, obtain an Estonian passport, and travel abroad.  They cannot vote in national elections and are unable to seek political asylum even when they are persecuted because no country can attest to their citizenship or accept them as citizens. 

Ivan grew up as an only child in the northeastern section of Estonia where some 96 percent of the population is Russian-speaking.  His mother holds a Russian passport, and his father resides in Russia, but one aunt who came to Estonia from St. Petersburg learned Estonian very quickly and passed the citizenship exam in a relatively short period of time.  After seeing her success, he moved to Estonia's capital, Tallinn, for better job opportunities.  It was a difficult move for Ivan, but he eventually made headway in his career.  This year, when Estonia became a member of the European Union, and feeling limited by where he could travel with the alien resident or "gray" passport, Ivan was motivated to start the process of becoming an Estonian citizen.

The first step to gaining Estonian citizenship is studying for the Estonian language and constitution exams. Ivan says he is lucky to be living in Tallinn, because it is a very difficult test for individuals who live in areas where Russian is spoken and thus do not have an opportunity to practice language skills.  Since the change in the country's leadership, Ivan says, the authorities are more welcoming and it isn't so difficult to get preparation materials.

Before taking the test, Ivan said, "Everyday was like a mental barrier."  It was just something he kept putting off.  The test itself consists of an Estonian language portion that includes speaking, comprehension, and writing, as well as a series of multiple choice questions about the country's history and constitution.  Although he said he was happy to get citizenship, "relieved" is probably a better word.  He felt safer both practically and psychologically.  And he's happy to know he can travel abroad.

Asked if he had traveled anywhere yet, Ivan related a story about his experience with U.S. immigration officials who had looked at his gray passport and sneered, "What is this?"  Another time he waited for hours to get a special discounted ticket to Finland.  But his new passport didn't come in time, and disappointingly, he could not travel there with his friend.  Still anticipating the arrival of his blue passport, Ivan says the first place he wants to go is Stockholm for the holidays.  As he spoke, the view through the window behind him was the annual Christmas tree arriving in the town square.

Looking ahead, Ivan says his children won't be Estonian.  "They'll get the blue passport, but they won't be Estonians," he says, "because the wife I choose will be Russian."