In correspondence sent to the Research Directorate, the vice-consul in the consular division of the embassy of the Russian Federation in Ottawa indicated that, by 1997, under the terms of the 1996 Statute on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (Russian Federation 18 July 1996), a parent could apply to have his or her child included in the parent's international passport (18 July 2005). However, the vice-consul noted that the other parent has a right to disallow this action (Russian Federation 18 July 2005). In a follow-up telephone interview, the vice-consul explained that even if a parent were able to add a child to his or her international passport without the consent or knowledge of the other parent, he or she would be unable to leave Russia with the child without a letter of consent from the other parent (ibid. 20 July 2005).

According to information obtained from the Website of the Russian American Consulting Corp., a travel agency accredited by the Russian consulate general in New York (Russian American Consulting Corp. n.d.a), children under the age of 14 in Russia may be registered on their parents' international passports (ibid.n.d.b).

The following documents are required when applying to register a child on a parent's passport: the child's birth certificate; proof of the parents' citizenship; one 3.5'' x 4'' front-view, black and white photograph of the child, if he or she is over five years of age; a marriage certificate or a copy, if the child carries the mother's surname; and US$150.

According to the vice-consul, under the terms of the 1996 Statute on the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a parent can apply to obtain a passport in his or her child's own name, (Russian Federation 18 July 2005; ibid. 20 July 2005). Again, however, the other parent can refuse to consent to the passport's issuance (ibid.; ibid. 18 July 2005).

Parents may apply to have their child registered on their international passports or to be issued his or her own passport from the time the child is born (ibid.).

Information on whether these provisions were in place prior to 1997 could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Russian American Consulting Corp. N.d.a. "Company Profile." http://www.russianconsulting.com/html/about%20us.asp [Accessed 20 July 2005]

_____. N.d.b. "Passport Services." http://www.russianconsulting.com/html/vpisanie.asp [Accessed 20 July 2005]

Russian Federation. 20 July 2005. Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ottawa. Telephone interview with the Vice-Consul.

_____. 18 July 2005. Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ottawa. Correspondence from the Vice-Consul.

_____. 18 July 1996. Statute on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. Presidential Edict No. 1039. (Published on Website of Federation of American Scientists.) http://www.fas.org/irp/world/russia/docs/edict_1039.htm [Accessed 22 July 2005]

Internet sites, including: Foreign Affairs Canada, Ministry of the Interior of Russia, United States Embassy in Moscow.