Perm woman obtains birth certificate after 55 years without passport

A Perm woman has lived 55 years without a passport. With her plight, she turned to the regional ombudsman Igor Sapko and only through the court, literally in recent days, was she issued a birth certificate. The woman took her only document with tears in her eyes. Now she only needs to get the coveted passport.

The woman agreed to tell 59.RU her story. She never went to school, can«t read or write. She worked as a dishwasher her whole life, but was never officially employed. The Perm woman also explained why she decided to get a passport and why she got tired of being an invisible person.

The interviewee requested anonymity; for convenience in the text, we will call her Anastasia.

«Neither my mother nor my husband cared at all»

Anastasia was born in Kazan into a large family. She doesn«t remember her father at all; he died in her early childhood. Her mother didn»t even take her to kindergarten; the girl always stayed at home. When it was time to go to school, her mother ignored that too.

«My aunt, my mother»s sister, wanted to send me to school, but my mother didn«t agree. I almost never went anywhere, did housework, looked after younger nephews,» recalls Anastasia. — «I can»t even read or write. Over time, I got a phone, but I only communicate with voice messages.«

Anastasia recalls that her mother had a passport but lost it. Her mother didn«t bother to get documents for the girl when she turned 14.

At age 22, Anastasia gave birth to a daughter. She and the father never officially married; they split up 13 years ago. With her young daughter, Anastasia moved from Kazan to Perm, to her sister.

«Neither my mother nor my husband cared at all that I lived without documents and without education,» says Anastasia.

In 2008, Anastasia was sent to a penal colony for six years. She asked not to name the article under which she was convicted. While Anastasia was in prison, her daughter was taken to an orphanage. After four years, Anastasia was able to be released on parole, but in 2016 she was sent to a colony again, staying there for a year. In prison, she trained as a seamstress. When her daughter turned 18, Anastasia took her from the orphanage. The girl has all the necessary documents — they were made for her by the orphanage staff.

The woman admits that for many years she was quite content with life without documents. She always got jobs unofficially. She worked as a dishwasher in various cafes for many years.

«Well, I worked in one cafe for a long time, about two years,» recalls Anastasia. «Then there were checks on how I was working there without documents. I just went to another place as the same dishwasher.»

For the last seven years, Anastasia hasn«t been working; she stays at home with her young grandson. Only her 33-year-old daughter works in the family. She, like her mother, got a job as a dishwasher. Now Anastasia»s daughter is pregnant again.

Why she decided to get a passport

When asked why only at age 55 she wanted to get the necessary birth certificate and passport, Anastasia answers quite frankly. With age, her asthma has worsened, and she suffers from severe coughing fits; she also wants to apply for disability due to severe hearing loss. Without a passport, Anastasia won«t be able to apply for a future pension either.

«Now documents are needed everywhere. They won»t admit me to the hospital without an OMS (compulsory medical insurance) policy either,« lists the interviewee. »Before, I somehow lived; no one ever asked for my passport. But now there«s illness, so I need a passport. You can»t go to the hospital, can«t go anywhere, can»t do anything. They won«t process the pension either.»

Ombudsman: «A person is legally like an invisible person»

Anastasia turned for help to the regional ombudsman Igor Sapko. She was helped to file an appeal to the court and was legally assisted. First, she had to get the very first document – a birth certificate – with the help of the court. Anastasia had to prove in court that she was born.

It was proven thanks to witness testimonies. These were Anastasia«s relatives from Tver, who were questioned in court. They all confirmed Anastasia»s date of birth and her identity. Only after the court was the woman handed the coveted birth certificate. Taking the document, she cried.

«I had the feeling that I was just born,» admits Anastasia. «Everyone congratulates me and says: you»ve become a person.«

Igor Sapko himself, in a conversation with a 59.RU correspondent, called Anastasia«s case »unique.«

«In fact, the person existed, but legally – as if an »invisible person«,» wrote the ombudsman of Perm Krai on his VKontakte page. «The woman had to go a long way through migration authorities and judicial instances. The process turned out to be not easy. It is very important that such cases are rare exceptions in our practice. Parents must remember that registering a child»s birth certificate and passport is not a formality, but the foundation of their future life and safety. A step not taken in time can, over the years, turn into serious trials for the child!«

Igor Sapko told 59.RU that his specialists will now help Anastasia with the passport application.

«Work has already begun; we are closely cooperating with the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Social Development of Perm Krai,» added the ombudsman.

Forgave her mother

Anastasia«s mother died 23 years ago. The woman holds no grudge against her and has forgiven her.

«Well, what can you do? I»m not angry with her. She herself didn«t live well,» Anastasia says briefly.

Now the woman will apply for a passport. Anastasia wants to improve her health and later find a job.

«But now the main thing is to help raise my grandson,» emphasizes the interviewee.

Previously, we told the story of a Perm woman who lived 21 years without a birth certificate and other documents. She also had to turn to the court.