UNHCR welcomes the legislative initiative to improve procedures related to detention of foreigners in Ukraine.[1]

UNHCR is pleased that the draft legislation currently under consideration would bring Ukrainian practices related to migrant detention into line with international and European standards, and encourages lawmakers to positively consider the proposed improvements. In practice, a significant proportion of persons detained for migration-related offenses choose to seek asylum, and therefore are persons of concern to UNHCR…

Read more: http://unhcr.org.ua/en/2011-08-26-06-58-56/news-archive/1079-the-un-refugee-agency-welcomes-to-improve-procedures-related-to-detention-of-foreigners-in-ukraine

25-06-2013

Three persons of Caucasian nationality were detected in the area of BS “Gertsa” of Chernivtsi Detachment with the help of night vision device. At night law enforcement agents noticed and detained one person, and soon two other were also arrested. All men did not have any documents. Detainees were delivered to border subdivision for carrying out filtration measures and processing procedural documents for illegal cross of the state border of Ukraine and violation of the border regimen.

In another case illegal migrants from Afghanistan and Bangladesh were caught in the area of Chop Detachment. Local residents informed the district inspector of BS “Velykyi Bereznyi” about appearance of unfamiliar persons. Detainees left about 1 km to reach the border. Two citizens of Afghanistan and one citizen of Bangladesh did not have any documents, however, two of them assured the law enforcement agents that they were 16 and 17 years old. Detainees explained that they made their way to EU countries to improve their life. Almost reaching the border, the smugglers left them and being hungry and physically exhausted they had to search the way themselves. Soon, they were detained by the border guards.

Source: http://dpsu.gov.ua/ua/about/news/news_1911.htm

24-06-2013

Georgians intended to get to EU through Transcarpathian oblast.

During the weekend border guards of Western regional department detected and apprehended some groups of illegal migrants from Caucasian region.

Thus, while carrying out actions on counteraction of illegal transportation of illegal migrants in the area of BS “Velykyi Bereznyi” of Chop Border detachment, four unfamiliar men without documents were detained 500 m before the state border. According to the words of the detainees, they were the citizens of Georgia.

Source: http://www.ua-reporter.com/novosti/137197

21-06-2013

Security Service of Ukraine  arrested the organizers of the channel of illegal migration.

Transcarpathian SSU officers apprehended three local residents being suspected in organization of international smuggling channel of illegal migrants through the state border of Ukraine.

In the end of May, in one of the populated area of Vynohradiv region SSU operatives arrested two cars in which the members of the grouping smuggled four citizens of Sri Lanka and one Pakistani.

Then the malefactors planned to transport the illegal migrants through Ukrainian-Hungarian border beyond the check point. Illegal migrants made their way to the countries of European Union choosing Ukraine as the transit territory.

The criminal case was commenced against the detained citizens of Ukraine according to Article 3 Part 332 of Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal transportation of persons through the state border of Ukraine committed  for financial gain). The sanction of the article foresees the punishment in the form of imprisonment for 7-9 years.

According to the court decision, two criminals were appointed a preventive measure – arrest, the third member of the crime – a pledge in the sum of 22 000 UAH.

Illegal migrants are handed over to State Border Service of Ukraine for deportation from the territory of Ukraine.

Source:  http://www.ua-reporter.com/novosti/137104

20-06-2013

On June 20, photo exhibition was solemnly opened in the building of Supreme Council of Ukraine dedicated to World Refugee Day. The event was organized by Representation of UNHCR under aegis of Committee of Supreme Council of Ukraine on human rights, national minorities and international relations.

Congratulating the organizers and presented, temporary acting head of SMS Vasyl Grytsak stressed that development of asylum institute in Ukraine is one of the most important priorities in the work of Migration Service. In pursuance of orders of the President of Ukraine and the Government to ensure European integration processes, in the course of last two years legislation on refugee status in Ukraine has been brought in correspondence with European standards.

In addition to photos of the refugees in Ukraine and paintings of the children-refugees, the exhibition also was partially dedicated to the achievements of Fridtjof Nansen – Norwegian figure, who played a prominent role in rendering service to refugees in the first half of 20^th century. Scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and the first Supreme Commissioner for Nation League on issues of refugees, Fridtjof Nansen introduced a special international certificate for refugees, so-called “Nansen’s passport”. It allowed them not only to travel as well as to start soon a new life.

Source: http://dmsu.gov.ua/novyny/novyny-dms-ukrainy/1433-vasil-gritsak-rozvitok-institutu-pritulku-v-ukrajini-odin-z-vazhlivikh-prioritetiv-u-roboti-migratsijnoji-sluzhbi

20-06-2013

Ukraine is not a safe country for all refugees – UNO

Every year 1500 to 2000 persons apply for refugee status in Ukraine, and it is granted to only about 7% out of this number. This information was presented by director of Refugee and Foreigner Department, Nataliya Naumenko.

According to her words, more people arrive from countries of Asia and Africa – Pakistan, Somalia, Iran, Iraq.

“We do not have any limits on this point. Everything is individually and depends on the very refugee, his\her  arguments about impossibility to reside in the country of his\her origin”, – Naumenko reported.

She also marked that last year a wide scale  programme was adopted “Integration Plan of refugees for the period up to 2020”. It contains legislation amendments, development of additional  TACs, medical services, language courses, etc.  According to additional statistics, in the course of the last year 35 000 to 40 000 migrants arrived to Ukraine. Two centers for refugees are used for their accommodation – in Mukachevo and Odessa.

Source: http://www.ua-reporter.com/novosti/137052

19-06-2013

June 20, according to UNO Resolution from December 4, 2000 the world celebrates World Refugee Day.

Refugees are the persons forced to leave their country due to the grounded fairs to become a victim of persecution for reasons of race, religion, citizenship, membership to certain social group or political beliefs.

The rights of the refugees and terms of refugee status granting are stipulated in 1951 Convention on Refugee Status and 1967 Protocol to it. Ukraine joined to these international agreements in 2002.

According to data of UNHCR, nowadays there are more than 200 million refugees registered in the world and about 25 million more are internally displaced persons.

Heading course of European Integration, in the course of the last years Ukraine has made a sufficient steps to bring the asylum institute to world standards. After creation of State Migration Service in December 2010, a principally new law “About refugees and persons in need of temporary or subsidiary protection” was adopted and started to act in Ukraine in 2011. This law has introduced refugee status as well as temporary and subsidiary protection and brought criteria, terms and procedures on protection granting to international standards and requirements of 1951 Convention on Refugee Status.

Nowadays, refugees are equated in their rights to ones of the citizens of Ukraine. By the beginning of 2013, about 2500 persons were registered in Ukraine. Only during 2012, 152 persons were granted refugee status or subsidiary protection. The largest number of migrants arrived from such countries as Afghanistan, Somalia and Syria.

During the consideration of applications received by the sub-departments of State Migration Service of Ukraine, its workers are guided by the norms of Ukrainian legislation, principles of objectivity, confidentiality, equality and humanism. Altogether, information submitted by the applicant is checked carefully with the aim to avoid abuse connected with protection granting. Decision on refugee status granting or status of person in need of subsidiary protection is accepted collectively after examination of all circumstances and present information. Any discrimination or preference based on the country of origin or other characteristics are completely excluded.

The important priority in the work of State Migration Service of Ukraine with the refugees is their integration into Ukrainian society. In August 2012, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine passed Resolution # 605-p by which Plan of Action was approved aimed at integration of refugees and persons in need of subsidiary protection into Ukrainian society for the period until 2020. The Plan foresees improvement of normative and legal base ensuring realization of refugees’ rights, development of international cooperation, events on formation of tolerate treatment of refugees in Ukrainian society, provision with education of Ukrainian language, history, culture and legislation, assistance in employment of refugees, etc..

In the frames of realization of above mentioned actions, Migration Service actively cooperates with Representation of UNHCR, non-governmental organizations and charity funds.

Source: http://dmsu.gov.ua/novyny/novyny-dms-ukrainy/1431-20-chervnya-vsesvitnij-den-bizhentsiv

14-06-2013

In the course of the check of the passenger train Kyiv-Warsaw border guards of Lutsk Detachment detected two trespassers. Two passengers of 54 and 29 years old presented for control the passports of the citizens of Germany. Border guards established that documents corresponded to specified sample and did not contain the signs of the forgery. However, during the further check, law enforcement agents  of BS Yagodyn noticed forged stamps on border cross of Ukraine. In the course of conducted complete identification it was established that these passports did not belong to their bearers and persons on the photos looked very similar to them. Finally, the travellers themselves told that they were Palestinians. At the present moment the women are detained until their personality and details of the infringement are established.

Source: http://dpsu.gov.ua/ua/about/news/news_1867.htm