As part of its election program, the Russian Communist Party on Monday proposed that ethnicity be once again indicated in the passports of Russian citizens.
Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin introduced the ethnicity line in 1932. In Soviet Russia, it was known as the “fifth paragraph,” because it was listed fifth on the passport, after full name, date of birth, place of birth and social status.
The clause was dropped in 1997 after complaints that it contributed to ethnic discrimination against non-Russians.
Parliamentary elections are due in Russia in December. The Communist Party currently has the second largest number of seats, after Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party.