After years of uncertainty and legal battles, seven OPU clients have been granted stateless status!
In recent weeks, a major breakthrough has been achieved in several cases involving stateless individuals. The Ministry of the Interior has officially recognized the stateless status of seven of our clients. In most cases, this recognition came only after years of legal uncertainty and successful litigation. This result is a significant success that reflects years of dedicated work by our legal team, persistent court efforts, and continued pressure to change established practice.
One of these cases clearly illustrates the issue of excessive delays that often accompany statelessness determination procedures. Our client submitted their application back in 2019. The Ministry rejected it in 2022. The court overturned the decision in July 2023, and the Supreme Administrative Court subsequently dismissed the Ministry’s cassation complaint in August 2024. Nevertheless, the Ministry failed to act and issued a new decision only after OPU filed a complaint for inaction and the case received media attention in the spring of this year. Applicants for stateless status often wait many years for a decision, during which time they have no access to essential services — not even public health insurance.
Another case highlights the unreasonable demands the Ministry of the Interior sometimes places on applicants. The Ministry frequently requires individuals to prove that they are not citizens of a particular country. This requirement contradicts international standards and is, in practice, nearly impossible to fulfill. Only the Czech authorities themselves can request such proof — and even then, only with the consent of the person concerned.
While recognition of stateless status is an important step, state support remains insufficient. This is illustrated by the case of an elderly married couple who, after their status was granted, had to leave the accommodation facility immediately, without any alternative housing secured. Thanks to OPU’s swift intervention, we were able to arrange temporary housing for at least a few months.
Despite being recognized as stateless, these individuals still have no access to state social support or any other form of state assistance. This shows that legal recognition alone is not enough — stateless people face serious barriers to accessing housing, social services, and other fundamental rights.
OPU will continue to advocate for better protection and support for stateless persons. Our goal is to ensure that legal recognition becomes the true beginning of a dignified life — not just a formal result without real impact.