On the Ukrainian refugees

Ukrainian refugees continue to arrive in the south-western regions of Russia. The Federal Migration Service stated that about 400,000 Ukrainians from the beginning of the year moved to Russia and are in the border regions of Ukraine.

Obviously, if these figures are correct, they include those who came to Russia in search of work. To confirm or refute these statistics is difficult also because between Russia and Ukraine visa-free border crossing regime. In order to determine their legal status in the FMS turned 90 thousand citizens of Ukraine. Quantity applied for temporary asylum and refugee status, according to official statistics – about 7000. On the Russian territory are open 207 temporary accommodation for the Ukrainians. Russian data on the number of refugees from the Ukraine is many times higher than in the UN reports, counted 34 thousand Ukrainian citizens have fled their homes since the beginning of the political crisis in Ukraine.

On the problem of refugees from the Ukraine, “Radio Liberty” told the head of the human rights organization “Civil Assistance” Svetlana Gannushkina:

– This is definitely a big stream. To name exact figures, I do not dare, because before a lot of Ukrainians were entering Russia in the hope that they will be able to get here no shelter, and work, and these are still the majority. Nevertheless, of course, the flow of refugees there, and this flow is much greater than has been so far. The numbers are so different, to say something definite is difficult. I’m watching the statistics of the Federal Migration Service, and it turns out that for refugee status with a thousand little man turned to the beginning of the year, and somewhere with a small 6 thousand have applied for temporary shelter. Why not take the rest of the documents – those who came from the war, due to the fact that they need asylum – it’s hard to say. Apparently, the state is not doing well. But at the same time, the Ukrainian case – a first stream, to which the Government refers in Russia very seriously, trying to help, and the public authorities in this respect supports. And I believe that the entire population, then there is no distinction between the opposition and those who support the government. Call the stream of refugees from Ukraine humanitarian disaster, I can not, because even the biggest numbers, which are called (and that I do not trust), it is much less than the accepted Lebanon from Syria (more than one million), far less than what It is taken from Turkey to Syria. Such a huge country like Russia can take his brothers. Because we go to people who do not just know how to speak in Russian, and the people for whom the Russian language and Russian culture – native. then there is no distinction between the opposition and those who support the government. Call the stream of refugees from Ukraine humanitarian disaster, I can not, because even the biggest numbers, which are called (and that I do not trust), it is much less than the accepted Lebanon from Syria (more than one million), far less than what It is taken from Turkey to Syria. Such a huge country like Russia can take his brothers. Because we go to people who do not just know how to speak in Russian, and the people for whom the Russian language and Russian culture – native. then there is no distinction between the opposition and those who support the government. Call the stream of refugees from Ukraine humanitarian disaster, I can not, because even the biggest numbers, which are called (and that I do not trust), it is much less than the accepted Lebanon from Syria (more than one million), far less than what It is taken from Turkey to Syria. Such a huge country like Russia can take his brothers. Because we go to people who do not just know how to speak in Russian, and the people for whom the Russian language and Russian culture – native. much less than that taken from Turkey to Syria. Such a huge country like Russia can take his brothers. Because we go to people who do not just know how to speak in Russian, and the people for whom the Russian language and Russian culture – native. much less than that taken from Turkey to Syria. Such a huge country like Russia can take his brothers. Because we go to people who do not just know how to speak in Russian, and the people for whom the Russian language and Russian culture – native.

– Help is still to determine the order of digits. It’s a thousand people, according to your estimates, or tens of thousands?

– I think tens of thousands. But the government has said that the hundreds of thousands.

– Do you think that the state may not be able to cope with this problem. Maybe need help of non-governmental organizations working with refugee issues?

– Such assistance is provided, and we are receiving. Although I must say that these items are drawn few people – perhaps precisely because the state is engaged in this very active. However, people come in our organization, and even in Moscow are very active volunteers. Ukrainian crisis – this is a problem, which brings together a huge number of people of different beliefs. A lot of volunteers collect food, clothing, money, a lot of places in our homes and apartments of people. However, in Moscow, I have not heard about this offer house somewhere in the country, far from Moscow, although the relatives, of course, invited. And in other cities – for example, in Rostov – take to his home strangers.

– Is it possible to create a portrait of a typical refugee families? These are people fleeing from the Ukrainian authorities, or by the separatists?

– These are people fleeing military operations, people who save their lives and the lives of their children. It is mainly women and children. If men are, if someone is involved in an armed conflict, women and children, of course, try to send in a safe place. It is always like this: refugees – these are the people who save their lives, regardless of belief. Of course, that part of the Ukrainian population who sympathize with the separatists in the ground and go to Russia, while others go to Ukraine. According to Ukrainian statistics, they received about 40 thousand refugees from the eastern regions. We have, I think, in general, more refugees. Many of these people need psychological help, they are filled with terrible rumors: But yesterday I heard of zhidomasonov, before I heard that American soldiers in Kharkov taking hostage all anybody. Of course, these are people,

– Russian propaganda?

– Probably, basically – the Russian, but also in conflict zones, as always, subject to the terrible rumors. Yesterday I talked to a woman who has an absolute fog in his eyes, and what she was saying, I did not dare to repeat. When we had passed on the personal and family topics, there was an absolute transformation, people like to come back to himself. However, she still writes poetry, I read a wonderful poem of his own composition about love, in the Ukrainian language. At the same time, she says, yes, we want to go home, but we want our house was a part of Russia.

– In the conflict zone, work with refugee representatives of some international organizations? For example, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees?

– In the camps, of course, they are, it is their duty. They attend camps in Russia, and I am convinced that in Ukraine, too. Refugee camps are very different – often pension, pioneer camps. In Moscow alone volonterka repulsed hostel where there were a lot of empty rooms, and to the people lodged. In addition, there is a Ministry of Emergency Situations of the camp, but they, of course, is clearly not enough.

– As long as the basic calculation – the seasonal residence of refugees in Russia? People expect that will be able to return home to attack the cold?

– Oh sure. The mood of the majority are: they want to return. But that’s what they tell us about the statements of the Ukrainian authorities … I am on the internet – and do not find anything of this. Rumors that nothing confirmed, but rumors excite people, and it is certainly very dangerous, as the flow of refugees increases even more, – has told Radio Liberty, the human rights activist Svetlana Gannushkina.

Sourse, 24/06/2014