Page 28 - AlienPassport

Grey

means Aljona Ahmedova

nothing

This is a true story, which I think people should know. I was born in Ukraine in
1992, but was brought up and lived in Estonia. My father is from Azerbaijan and
mother is from Ukraine, they moved to Estonia in the ‘80s as Estonia was part of
Soviet Union.

After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, my parents were given alien passports
and I was automatically awarded the same. For them being Russian speakers
there was no chance of them passing an exam to get Estonian citizenship. But
for the younger generation like myself, it was easier to pass the exam because
they introduced the language and history of the country in school. However, my
parents and another 80,000 people in Estonia are still having grey passports,
which is unbelievable that this aliens passport still exists in the 21st century.

The situation in Estonia is still pretty bad since the 90s till this day there is many
confrontations between Russian speakers and Estonians natives. Estonia is
a very small country with a population of 1.3 million people, that is why native
Estonians scared to lose their traditions, values, and language. The older
generation still remembers the USSR period and Estonians couldnt forgive the
fact that Estonia was occupied, for which they punish Russians by not giving
them rights.

I, as a “lucky” owner of the grey passport in the past, I can say that it is terrible. To
not have the rights to vote and not be part of a place you call home. To have many
restrictions when traveling, when you are going to another country. You have to
go through full inspection because people think you are dangerous. That feeling
that you are not welcome in the country where you grew, that you do not belong
to anywhere is a very emotional feeling.