10-04-2012

Russian and Ukrainian transporting 4 citizens of Georgia by two cars were detained recently in Luhansk region by border guards of BS “Krasna Talivka”. The cars stopped nearby the border, where border guards detected four men of Caucasian appearance. During the check of the documents it was established that detainees were citizens of Georgia of the age 20-62 years old. Now law enforcement agents clarify the conditions of apprehension.

Two more citizens of Georgia and one Russian were apprehended by detail of BS “Seredyna-Buda” of Sumy Detachment, who illegally got to Ukraine. Law enforcement agents stopped the car nearby the border inside of which there were “travelers”. After establishment of the circumstances of violation, a criminal case was instituted for illegal transportation of persons through the state border of Ukraine against one of the detained persons by the head Sumy Border Detachment.

Source: http://pvu.gov.ua/control/uk/publish/article?art_id=150117&cat_id=48886

10-04-2012

Illegal migrants who tried to get to European Union live in Transcarpathia.

They were not admitted there by Ukrainian border guards, they cannot return back home – there they are threatened with prison or death. There 59 resident in Mukachevo centre. Half of them are children and 8 of them are without accompaniment of adults. Now, here is 18-year-old Amir Hosein Sharifi, who fled from war in Afghanistan 3 years ago.

“There is still war in my country. It will never be quietly there. I was threatened in Afghanistan for the cooperation with Americans, for my family was rich. And they constantly wanted to take our money” – Amir told.

In the centre for refugees boy studies Ukrainian language and earns money as a translator. He dreams to go to the West, if he does not go there he will stay in Transcarpathia.

Husband and wife from Somalia do not see their future in Ukraine. In Transcarpathia they met each other, married and now have a son. They cannot neither rent a flat nor to find some work, they live on the support of their relatives.

“We do not have life we wanted. We just eat and lie. There is no work…we wanted to rent a flat but were refused because of the colour of our skin” – refugees from Somalia, Chega is telling.

“My wish is have a normal life, to have own house and job. Then I will be happy and calm about the future of my son” –woman-refugee from Somalia says.

Already for 5 years Syrian woman Istaha Mustafa together with her 6 children have been living in the room of 15 m². They were making their illegal trip to cherished Germany. When they were caught at Ukrainian-Slovakian border, the head of the family returned to the country of origin. Children do not have documents, they go to Ukrainian school and forget their native language.

“I cannot return back to Syria. I will be put to prison at once” – it was said by the refugee from Syria.

The most unprotected categories of migrants, families with children and under age children without adults are settled to the centre for refugees. They are fed by the budget costs and for the money of benefactors.

“It is allotted 15 UAH per one person for food. It is not taken into account weather it is a child or adult person. Here they are on complete state maintenance. That is all municipal services are paid by the government” – it is stated by the acting director of TAF in Transcarpathian region, Petro Rosola.

Almost 7 thousand illegal migrants were detained in Transcarpathia in the course of 3 years. According to the law, all of them are criminals, they are kept in close camps, where they are awaiting for refugee status. However, this status is given only to 2% of applicants. Person who is not able to prove that in his native country he is threatened with danger, so he asks for protection. This kind of request became possible due to a new law that widened the conditions for those granted asylum in Ukraine.

“These are mostly persons from the countries where their life is threatened with death, tortures, and non-freedom. This right has been already enjoyed by 45 persons in the region. These are mainly migrants from Somalia, Syria, Afghanistan” – it was reported by the chief of Head Administration of Migration Service of Ukraine in Transcarpathian region, Igor Mykhailyshyn.

A psychologist works with refugees, they are rendered free legal aid. Benefactors promise to place boys to Driving Courses. But for the majority Ukraine is only a transit to cherished Europe.

Source: http://zakarpattya.net.ua/News/95197-U-Mukachivskomu-tsentri-dlia-bizhentsiv—59-meshkantsiv-VIDEO

09-04-2012

At the present moment, there are 59 persons in Mukachevo Temporary Accommodation Facility (TAF) – they are namely citizens from Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, Egypt. Most of them are children – 32, eight out of them are unaccompanied minors. All of them made their way to Europe in the search of better destiny; however, they were caught at the border.

«Centre of open type, – it is reported by Petr Rosola, deputy director of TAF, – allows people here to go outside. Children study here, particularly in Mukachevo Secondary School № 16, they have many friends, they master language. There are also babies who were born in the centre».

The very asylum seekers do not complain on the conditions, they say that they have all necessary things except job. They also mention that Transcarpathian inhabitants though good people, but they are not always tolerate as to other nationalities. Majority of foreigners do not wish to return back to their country of origin as there is war there, women are raped, children are killed.

Source: http://ua-reporter.com/novosti/115736

09-04-2012

Weekend became rather “hot” for border guards of Chop Detachment as they had to realize the detention of 6 persons trying to cross illegally the state border.

The luckiest were illegal migrants from Moldova because border guards of BS “Guta” caught them in the approach to state border and they had to get over the hard passable mountainous-wooden area. There were 5 detainees, one of them did not have any identifying documents.

In the area of BS “Onokovtsy” one more citizen of Moldavia also without documents was arrested.

What country of European Union has to become the point of their destination and their personalities will be established later. At the present moment administrative-procedural actions and operative-investigation measures are undertaken. Decision about responsibility before the law and their future destiny will be defined by the court.

Press service of Chop Border Detachment 

Source: http://ua-reporter.com/novosti/115713

09-04-2012

A group of persons without documents was detained in the area of BS “Uzhgorod”. Border guards learned information beforehand about appearance of the group of persons of African appearance in controlled border area. Border detail took all necessary measures on sudden detention of the violators, in the result of which four persons without documents finished their night walk. The fifth illegal migrant was caught later by operative group with the help of the service dog. All detainees were citizens of Congo. At the present moment administrative-procedural actions and operative-checking measures are carried out with the aim to establish the possible participation of the citizens of Ukraine in transportation of illegal migrants.

It will be recalled, that persons assisting illegal migrants in moving through the state border of Ukraine are punished by the Law in the form of imprisonment for the term of 7 years.

Press-service of Chop Border Detachment

Source: http://ua-reporter.com/novosti/115696

09-04-2012

During the last two days, a series of detention were conducted by the border guards of BS “Tysa” and “Chop”.

In the area of check point “Tysa” a citizen of Ukraine was apprehended, who tried to cross the border with invalid document. In the check point “Uzhgorod” border guards did not let a woman, citizen of Ukraine, through the border, who also presented invalid document for check and Ukrainian who did not give any documents for control. Decision concerning the responsibility of our country fellows before the law will be made by the court. It should be mentioned that their unsuccessful attempts “to cross the border unnoticed” can enlarge the state treasure for the sum of 5100 – 10200 UAH.

Two citizens of Serbia were detected in the check point “Tysa” as they exceeded determined by the legislation the term of stay in Ukraine. They have already paid the fine in the sum of 1020 UAH. Their example was repeated by the citizen of Croatia who held over the specified term and wanted to depart from Ukraine through the check point “Chop-passenger station”. Thus, he had to pay the fine in the sum of 510 UAH. After fines payment, indicated foreigners continued their trip.

Source: http://zakarpattya.net.ua/News/95121-Na-Zakarpatti-2-serbiv-ta-khorvata-oshtrafuvaly-na-1530-hrn.-

07-04-2012

In the end of March 2012, in Odessa SSU officers detained the citizen of Afghanistan, who is suspected in organization of international channel of illegal transportation of persons through the state border of Ukraine. Long time he kept close from investigation.

In the beginning of the current year, law enforcement agents caught his two accomplices nearby the village V.Dobron of Uzhgorod district. They were local residents intending to transport illegally six Afghans through Ukrainian-Hungarian border to EU countries beyond the check point.
SSU inspectors commenced criminal case against detained persons and organizer of illegal transportation was announced in the search.

On March 30, inspectors of SSU in Transcarpathian region commenced a criminal case against the citizen of Afghanistan according to Part 2 Article 332 of Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal transportation of persons through the state border of Ukraine committed on preliminary plans). Now, detainee is under arrest.

Investigation goes on.

Press-centre of Security Service of Ukraine.

Source: http://www.ua-reporter.com/novosti/115735

04-04-2012

Press-conference took place in Uzhgorod devoted to presentation of high prize to Charitable Organization “Medical Aid Committee”– International Prize “Open Borders”.

Swiss Human Rights Prize “Open Borders” is awarded to persons or groups that actively work in the field of rights protection of refugees, migrants, socially unprotected groups of population and minorities.

The Prize (in the sum € 10 thousand) was presented by Hannes Kaizer, representative of Association “Circle of friends of Cornelius Koch” to director of “Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya” Nataliya Kabatsiy.

Ambassador of Switzerland in Ukraine Christian Schoenenberger participated in the press-conference. He has informed about his agreement on establishment of bilateral relations between Switzerland and Transcarpathia during the meeting with the head of Transcarpathian Regional State Administration, Oleksandr Ledyda and head of Transcarpathian Regional Council, Ivan Baloha.

Natalia Kabatsiy told: “It is rather difficult to find motivation and courage in every day work. We have been working for already 12 years so we are pleased to get a prize in the field of human rights protection. Already the second year we are engaged in activities on prevention of xenophobia and racism in Transcarpathia. Our region is a tolerate area. Today we have migration flow, thus we need react upon it correspondingly – in human way.”

Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya renders medical, social and sanitary aid. Concerning the organization, numerous programs in the field of support of solidarity and assistance to sick and need persons were realized, centre “Parasolka” was created and opened for people with limited abilities (Tyachiv), educational work, help refugees and asylum seekers in Ukraine is implemented.

Organization was found by Ukrainian staff of French Ukrainian Humanitarian Association “Medical Aid Committee” with the aim to realize programs in Ukraine. Since March 2000, CO “MACZ” acts as independent charitable organization. In April 2006, CO “MACZ” was awarded Prize of French Government for the contribution into development of Vilshany Children Orphanage and assistance to handicapped  children. Nowadays, Committee realizes its activity in three directions: human rights, social protection and health care.

CO “MACZ” organizes the meetings for youth of the area with interesting personalities, which will take place on April 5, 2012. See details at the website of Charity Organization “Meidcal Aid Committee in Zakarpattya” www.cam-z.org, – Uzhgorod press-club informs.

Source: http://zakarpattya.net.ua/News/94956-Zakarpatska-blahodiina-orhanizatsiia-otrymala-mizhnarodnu-hroshovu-premiiu

04-04-2012

Four citizens of Afghanistan were caught nearby the border of Transcarpathia. All of them were moving to Slovakia without a guide. They paid $4000 in order to get to the very territory of this country. Their trip from Afghanistan to Slovakia took two months. Two of these persons are 16 and 17 years old. Children were handed over to Administration of Labour, Social Affairs and Family. Press secretary of Border Police in Sobrance, Agnessa Kopernytska reported that two other refugees asked asylum. Thus, they will be taken to the camp for migrants in Humenne.

Source: http://ua-reporter.com/novosti/115513

Solemnities took part today in Transcarpathian Regional Council on the occasion of presentation of high international human rights prize “Open Borders” to Charitable Organization “Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya” headed by Nataliya Kabatsiy.

Head of Regional Council Ivan Baloha, his deputy Andriy Serbailo, the governor of Executive Apparatus of Regional Council Mykhailo Popovych took part in the event.

In the frames of working visit to Transcarpathia Christian Schoenenberger, the Ambassador of Switzerland in Ukraine, and his wife Mrs. Barbara Cender Schoenenberger shared the pleasure of the prize and presented their respects.

Dick Marty, famous European political actor, lawyer, specialist on International Crime Law: deputy from Switzerland in European Council, president of Assembly of Canton of Jura (there are 26 cantons in the composition of Federal Government of Switzerland) was also invited to prize presentation as well as Hannes Kaizer – representative of European Civic Forum and Michael Roessler – representative of Association “Circle of friends of Cornelius Koch and others.

Greeting the presented persons, Swiss Ambassador in Ukraine mentioned that he was glad to be presented at the prize award to Charity Organization “MACZ” the mission of which is to support low socially groups of population in the area. He also said about support and assistance of refugees and persons with limited abilities. “I am thankful that Transcarpathian non-governmental organization closely cooperates with Swiss governmental organization and also grateful to representative of Swiss Parliament for his coming to this event, accentuating upon existing cooperation between Ukrainian Transcarpathia and Switzerland. Cooperation between regions, governments is very important not only on the high level but when non-governmental organizations cooperate and find the ways for communication” – he stressed.

Ivan Baloha marked that this pleasant event coincided with the visit to Transcarpathia of the Ambassador of Switzerland in Ukraine. “During short talks, I expressed my gratitude to Mr. Ambassador for that assistance realized by the public and residents of Switzerland concerning the realization of the project “Parasolka” in Tyachiv. I would like sincerely to thank initiators, public actors of your government, Charitable Organization “MACZ” and say: we are proud that such a great work was done in our region due to your help. By your activities, behavior you have given the part of Swiss soul to children of unprotected groups of Transcarpathian population and this aid is very important in education and safekeeping of such children. I hope that our good actions will not finish here, they will have logical continuation, – Ivan Ivanovych accented.

Dick Marty presented frank, warm speech, where he marked the efforts, non-indifference and services of CO “MACZ” and spoke with pride about Swiss human rights prize given to persons or groups that actively work in the field of rights of refugees, migrants, socially unprotected groups and minorities. The prize is politically and religiously independent.

His keen narration was about the founder of this prize – the priest Cornelius Koch (1940-2001), known as Chaplain of refugees. He started the prize “Open Alps – open borders”. The first person received this prize was Don Renco Beretta. In his church in Ponte Chiasso (Northern Italy) he gave shelter to hundreds of refugees returned from Swiss border. Afterwards, this prize was received by others. After death of Chaplain Koch (in August 2001) the prize was not awarded.  After the death of Chaplain Koch (in August 2010) the prize was not awarded for certain period. But in 2010 the Association «Circle of friends of Cornelius Koch» gave it a new name “Open Borders”. The goal and grant were left the same, and the prize has become to look for its winners.

Today Transcarpathian benefactors are in its ranks.

As Nataliya Kabatsiy reported, organization was found by Ukrainian staff of French Ukrainian Humanitarian Association “Medical Aid Committee” with the aim to realize programs in Ukraine. Since March 2000, CO “MACZ” acts as independent charitable organization. There are numerous programs realized by organization on development of solidarity and assistance of sick and needy persons, creation of centre for young people with restricted abilities ”Parasolka” (Tyachiv), elucidative work, help to refugees and asylum seekers in Ukraine.

In April 2006, CO “MACZ” was awarded Prize of French Government for the contribution into development of Vilshany Children Orphanage and assistance to handicapped  children. Nowadays, Committee realizes its activity in three directions: human rights, social protection and health care.

Other speakers on the part of the guests stressed that people are not often thoughtful about the problems of handicapped persons, do not imagine what makes refugees come to foreign lands. It is indifference. Nevertheless, not all of us indifferent – someone solves these problems, thus society does not lose its human face.

Charitable Organization “Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya” belongs to them being awarded with the highest international decoration. Dick Marty realized this honorable mission.

Correspondingly to order, Ivan Baloha rewarded Balega Katharine, Danch Nadiya, Yuriychuk Oksana with Diploma of Regional Council for the significant contribution into realization of charitable projects in the area and active civil position of the members of CO “MACZ”.

In his comments, Christian Schoenenberger stressed that he was glad to meet the head of Regional Council. It will help support and develop cooperation, which is on a good level and can be improved in future in different fields and be activated on the level of public organizations.

Ivan Baloha emphasized that when he was elected as the head of Regional Council he promised to his fellow-citizens that, first of all, organization of close friendly relations with countries of European Union, finding partners there should become the principle work of RC. This external factor will have to help us to find ourselves in Europe, has to help us in social field, development of ecology of Carpathians and its preservation, extension of modern technologies existed in the world and unfortunately still not appeared here. The arrival of Mr. Ambassador – is a notable event for Transcarpathia, by this action he confirmed his intention to develop friendly relations with our area in different directions in future. The example of it – is joint project of Transcarpathian foresters in renovation of forest FORZA and building of Centre “Parasolka”. Today we have discussed opportunity to sign up Cooperation Agreement between Transcarpathia and one of the Cantons of Switzerland in future.

Source:http://zakarpattya.net.ua/News/94917-Blahodiina-orhanizatsiia-Komitet-Medychnoi-Dopomohy-v-Zakarpatti-otrymala-mizhnarodnu-premiiu-FOTO