Alternatives to the Nansen passport: a document for migrants to the EU from the Russian Federation and other authoritarian countries

April 2025

Proposals for Optimizing EU-Issued Identification Documents for Exiles

ALTERNATIVES TO THE NANSEN PASSPORT

The Center for Analysis and Strategies in Europe (CASE) is an EU-based think tank focusing on economic and political developments in post-Soviet countries, as well as on the Russian diaspora in Europe and North America.

The Center’s mission is to provide expert knowledge on the processes taking place in Russia and neighbouring countries, influencing public opinion and advising policymakers on related issues. The Center was founded by in Nicosia, Cyprus in 2024 by Mr. Dmitrii G. Gudkov, a Russian liberal politician and activist who has served as the State Duma deputy between 2011 and 2016.

Responsibility for the opinions expressed in this report rests exclusively with its authors.

Report contents

Abstract

Section 1. Travel Documents in 2025

Section 2. Russians in Europe. The Effects of the Russian and Belarusian Passport Policies on the E.U. Immigrants: A Poll

Additional Takeaways

Appendices

Authors of the report

Dmitry Gudkov

State Duma deputy (2011-2016), member of the Opposition Coordination Council, one of the leaders of the 2011-2012 protests, co-founder of the Anti-War Committee of Russia and the CASE Center for Expert Analysis.

about author

Vasilii Bernshtein

Sociologist, specialist in economic behavior and social stratification, teacher of economic sociology, PR and GR, entrepreneur.

about author

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