Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category

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Translated press-artice: “What should Transcarpathians expect from newly-created State Migration Service?”

Source (in Ukrainian)

A new central body of executive power appeared a month ago – State Migration Service (SMS). It is the fifth attempt to make a separate body which would be engaged exclusively in issues of citizenship and migration. And now this newly created institution has all chances to regulate a chain of questions in the filed of migration policy and citizenship of the government.

Continue reading ‘Translated press-artice: “What should Transcarpathians expect from newly-created State Migration Service?”’

Afghan citizens beaten in detention at Ukraine airport

Source: Amnesty International Ukraine

Amnesty International has condemned the mistreatment of eight Afghan citizens awaiting deportation from Ukraine, who are being beaten by border guards and denied adequate food, water and medical treatment. Continue reading ‘Afghan citizens beaten in detention at Ukraine airport’

France 24: Asylum seekers face abuse at the gates of Europe

Source: France 24

The numbers of migrants trying to cross into the EU from Ukraine appear to be falling, no doubt because EU assistance has reinforced Ukrainian border patrols. But an alarming report by Human Rights Watch suggests that ill-treatment of migrants on the Ukrainian side may also be part of the deterrent.

Watch the video

Continue reading ‘France 24: Asylum seekers face abuse at the gates of Europe’

Ukraine: Refugee is imprisoned again because he is a refugee

Source: No Border Project – Social Action Centre

On 2 March 2011 in the premises of the Kyiv City Migration Service (KMS), right after receiving a rejection in refugee status from that authority, a refugee Denis Solopov was detained by police. Migration Service where refugees are supposed to come and ask for protection turned out to be a trap, where they are caught on demand of their persecutors.

Continue reading ‘Ukraine: Refugee is imprisoned again because he is a refugee’

UNHCR-Report about Refugee Homelessness in Hungary

Since 2008 the BMPU-project is documenting cases of unlawful returns (“refoulement”) from neighbouring EU-countries to Ukraine. But even if refugees and other vulnerable migrants manage to enter the Hungarian asylum system, they are first confronted with month in detention and after their release they have to live under highly precarious conditions.

Find the UNHCR-study about homeless refugees in Budapest here.

September 2010: Two migrants died in Slowakia during their border crossing from Ukraine

5. 9. 2010: Press article by Anna Kornajová

Tourists found already a second dead migrant in the Poloniny mountains

On Saturday morning a tourist found a young dead woman in a remote area of the protected area of the water reservoir Starina in the National Poloniny Park. Most probably an illegal migrant. What is shocking is that on Thursday another migrant of the same age died by the Schengen border. Both bodies were in areas where tourists go.

Continue reading ‘September 2010: Two migrants died in Slowakia during their border crossing from Ukraine’

European Union is going to conclude a development contract for building ten new detention centres in Ukraine

The biggest detention centres for irregular migrants’ stay, for 100 persons each are going to be equipped in Mykolaiiv and Donetsk regions. In Chop (Transcarpathian region) a centre will appear a little bit later designed for 66 persons. Besides, it is planned to equip seven small centres for 10 persons each – three in Transcarpathian region, two in Lviv and one each in Sumy and Luhansk regions. Until now, the arrangement of detention centres is at the starting stage: There is acceptance of tender proposals in Ukrainian Reprehensive Action Office of EU, which will continue till April 11.

Source: http://www.uzhgorod.net.ua/news/43858

Short visit to Hungary: Budapest – Debrecen – Bicske

The following report refers to conversations during a two-day visit to Hungary. Predominantly, we talked to Afghan refugees in Debrecen (reception centre – transfers after the first screening in Békéscsaba or after the end of detention in one of the various detention centres) and in Bicske (camp for unaccompanied minors and recognised refugees), but also to staff of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee. The focus of these conversations was the situation of refugees, deported to Hungary under the Dublin II Regulation – but also the social conditions of refugees in Hungary in general.

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Human Rights Watch: Buffeted in the Borderland

This 124-page report is based on interviews with 161 refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers in Ukraine, Slovakia, and Hungary. It shows that although some conditions in migration detention facilities have improved, Ukraine subjects many migrants to inhuman and degrading treatment and has been unable or unwilling to provide effective protection for retfugees and asylum seekers.

Read the report

Associated Press about the report

Ukraine-report, published by Amnesty International

Amnesty International published a report concerning Ukraine, pointing out the problematic conditions for refugees and other vulnerable migrants in Ukraine:

“There is no adequate and fair asylum procedure in Ukraine and its asylum system fails to comply with international law. Migrants, refuguees and asylum-seekers are subjected to a range of human rights violations.”

“Amnesty International is concerned about the limited access of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and asylum lawyers to the detainees in the “accommodation centres” in the airport, as well as the possible detention of vulnerable individuals, including minors. The organization is also concerned that asylum-seekers and migrants may not be able to challenge the lawfulness of their detention.”

“Ukraine has repeatedly forcibly returned asylum-seekers and even recognized refugees to countries where they were at risk of being subjected to grave human rights violations.”

Read the complete Amnesty International report

Recently published by BMPU: Report on Corruption in the Immigration, Detention and Asylum System of Ukraine

Published 2011 by BMPU: Access to Protection Denied – Refoulement of Refugees and Minors on the Eastern Borders of the EU

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