Since July 1, Moldova stopped passing through their territory Ukrainians returning home without passports.
The reason was the violations of informal agreements: part of the former prisoners deported from Russia did not reach Ukraine and disappeared in Moldova itself. DW found out Details.
Problem on the border with Georgia
The situation was the first to report the organization “Tbilisi Volunteers”, based in Georgia. According to the coordinator Maria Belkina, dozens of Ukrainians deported from Russia were stuck on a neutral strip between the Russian Federation and Georgia. They do not have passports, and they expect confirmation of the personality to cross the border. The Georgian authorities agree to skip them only if there is a Ukrainian certificate of return and air tickets to Chisinau – the end point of the transit route.
Prisoners did not reach Odessa
Human rights activist Vadim Vieru from the Moldavian organization Promo-Lex confirms that Moldova really suspended the transit of Ukrainians freed from Russian prisons. We are talking about people convicted by Ukrainian courts before the start of the war, who ended up in colonies in the Kherson region. After the occupation of the region, the Russian prisoners were taken to the Russian Federation, and now, as they liberated, they strive to return to Ukraine.
Earlier between Kiev and Chisinau, an informal agreement was reached on the creation of a transit corridor: Tbilisi-Chisinau-Ukraine. However, according to Vieru, a incident occurred a few weeks ago: some of the liberated, who arrived in Chisinau, arbitrarily left the bus on the way to her homeland. Despite the fact that formally they did not violate the law, this case caused concern among the Moldovan authorities. As a result The transit agreement was suspended.
People in the basement on the border
Maria Belkina said that after Crossing the transit of the Georgian customs stopped sending Ukrainians to the airportand returned them back to the building on the neutral territory between the checkpoint Verkhny Lars (RF) and Daryali (Georgia). This cellar room without windows is designed for 17 people, but now more than 50 men are forced to live there. The conditions are extremely difficult: there is not enough food, water and elementary living conditions.
Unofficial versions and alternatives
There have been no official statements from the Moldovan authorities. In private conversations, DW sources claim that the story with deported Ukrainians may not be so unambiguous. It is indicated that the return of Ukrainian citizens is possible through Belarus – this route is regularly used in the exchange of prisoners of war.
Also in Chisinau is actively discussing another problem: On the streets of the Moldavian capital, you can increasingly meet Ukrainians of draft age, illegally crossing the border in order to avoid mobilization. In Moldova, they apply to obtain a refugee status or temporary protection, and then use the possibility of visa -free departure in EU.
Position of Moldova: Borders – under control
From a legal point of view, Moldova, like any sovereign state, has the right to limit the entry of certain categories of persons. This is not considered a violation of international obligations in the field of human rights. The fate of the transit corridor now depends on the new agreements between Chisinau and Kyiv.
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