Doc. 8566

4 October 1999

"Propiska" system applied to migrants and refugees in the CIS countries: effects and remedies

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Jurgens and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and only expresses the views of the members who have signed it

1.       The right of a permanent resident of a country to move freely within the country is enshrined in a number of international and regional human rights documents. Many of the CIS countries, however, have had difficulties in granting their citizens and permanent residents this right because of the propiska system which requires that each person obtain a residence permit from the authorities at his/her place of residence.

2.       The propiska system existed in the former Soviet Union for most of its history. It served to restrict freedom of movement and choice of residence and was a prerequisite for obtaining employment, housing and for accessing social services.

3.       The propiska system has now been abolished in regard to citizens in the constitutions of all the CIS states. This means in theory that a citizen is free to choose a place of his/her residence on the territory of his/her country and register with the authorities by simply notifying them on any change in his/her address. In practice, the propiska system remains in place in most of the CIS countries affecting in particular the lives of many migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and displaced persons.

4.       In a number of CIS countries, for example, refugees and asylum seekers often find themselves in a situation where they cannot receive status determination until they have registered, and cannot register until they have received refugee status. Without a propiska they are perceived as illegal migrants and not as persons seeking international protection exposing them to the risk of refoulement. Another consequence of the lack of propiska is that refugees and displaced persons are regularly denied housing, access to social and medical services.

Given the serious consequences of the propiska system for the lives of many migrants, refugees and displaced persons, the Parliamentary Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers study this question and make recommendations to the governments concerned.

Signed : ¹

Jurgens, Netherlands, SOC

Billing, Sweden, EDG

Björnemalm, Sweden, SOC

Brancati, Italy, SOC

Búsić, Croatia, EPP/CD

Christodoulides, Cyprus, UEL

Connor, Ireland, EPP/CD

Einarsson, Sweden, UEL,

Guirado, Spain, SOC

Hrebenciuc, Romania, SOC

Ivanov S. Estonia, SOC

Judd, United Kingdom, SOC

Karlsson, Austria, SOC

Keltošová, Slovakia, EDG

Ponsonby, United Kingdom, SOC

Szinyei, Hungary, EPP/CD

Tabajdi, Hungary, SOC

Telek, Turkey, EDG

Tkác, Slovakia, EDG

Vermot-Mangold, Switzerland, SOC

Zwerver, Netherlands, NR

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG:European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL : Group of the Unified European Left

      NR : Not registered in a group