CYIL vol. 9 (2018)

CYIL 9 ȍ2018Ȏ CZECHOSLOVAKIA: CERTIFICATES AND PASSPORTS OF REFUGEES The circular requested that the individual sections of the application be accurately and properly filled in. 110 Personal information in the application had to be filled out in Czech and Russian. The implementation instruction placed a specific emphasis on surnames, including otchestvo , which means the name of the applicant’s father. The application contained a certain section for the refugee’s nationality. In the case of female surnames, the ending attachment “ ova ” or “ a ” was written out of the certificate of identity. Occupation and description of the person was exactly denoted in the personal certificate. This document also contained a photo that was stamped. An imprint of the applicant’s thumbs and a signature was also attached. Spaces for adhering visas were provided in the passport and a section was reserved for the extension of the document. The authorities continued to distinguish between Russian and Ukrainian nationalities of refugees, although this did not seem to be meaningful according to refugee arrangements. The credibility of the personal data and the correctness of the Czech and Russian spelling of the applicant’s surname were verified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its Russian department was previously authorized to issue personal certificates of residency to Russian, Ukrainian and Armenian refugees. Personal certificates could be issued only to Russian (Ukrainian) and Armenian refugees who resided in Czechoslovakia, provided that they were nationals of the former Russian or Turkish (Ottoman) empire and that they did not acquire Soviet or Turkish citizenship. 111 The requirements highlighted in the circular were not in absolute concord with the definition of Russian and Armenian refugees under the arrangement of 12 May 1926. 112 The first requirement referred to the factual relationship between a refugee and the Czechoslovak state, which was based on the circumstance of their residency. Whereas the second requirement was connected to the termination of the legal relationship between a refugee and their country of origin, 113 the last requirement was exclusively restricted to the Soviet Union and Turkey and ignored the acquisition of citizenship of another state. Such a person could thus obtain a new de jure protection, but not from the refugee’s home state. The certificate was drawn up on an official form with a Czech-French or Slovak-French text. Every certificate of identity was provided with a number issued by the provincial authority and an official record of it was kept. Prior to issuing a personal certificate to politically exposed persons, the designated authorities had to request a report from the Land Office or the Ministry of Interior. Personal certificates were issued only to refugees of good character, which was a quintessential security condition. Although a registration duty was imposed on Russian or Armenian refugees, they were not entitled to obtain a personal 112 Arrangement relating to the Issue of Identity Certificates to Russian and Armenian Refugees, supplementing and amending previous arrangements dated 5 July 1922, and 31 May 1924. Signed in Geneva, 12 May 1926. League of Nations, Treaty Series , 1929, Vol. LXXXIX, No. 2004, p. 49. The Conference adopts the following definitions of the term ‘refugees’: Russian: “Any person of Russian origin who does not enjoy or who no longer enjoys the protection of the Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics and who has not acquired another nationality.” Armenian: “Any person of Armenian origin formerly a subject of the Ottoman Empire who does not enjoy or who no longer enjoys the protection of the Government of the Turkish Republic and who has not acquired another nationality.” 113 VERNER, V. Občanství státní. HÁCHA, E., HOETZEL, J., WEYR, F., LAŠTOVKA, K. (eds.) Slovník veřejné- ho práva československého . Svazek II, I až O. Brno: Polygrafia – Rudolf M. Rohrer, 1932 p. 977. 110 Ibidem. 111 Ibidem.

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