04 December 2003, 19:00
Chechen refugees: from Russia to Europe
The refugees as graphic evidence of trouble - social, economic, political one or whatever else - is a problem which the Russian authorities have learnt to cope with, at least, within the country. Though the truth is that they have learnt to do it not by improving the situation and not by eliminating the causes giving birth to such a phenomenon, but just by depriving refugees of their status and by forcedly sending them back there where they escaped from.
The authorities have been conducting a continuous war against the Chechen refugees in Ingushetia in such a way for more than two years, forcing them out to Chechnya by any means.
According to unofficial information, the Migration Service is assigned to finally liquidate all the refugee camps by the summer of 2004.
However a part of those who do not want to live in today's Chechnya in constant fear of their live and their children's safety leave Russia mainly for Europe.
I can give only one figure. If last year there were about 150 Chechens in Czechia, now there are about 3,000 of them there. Only one positive aspect can be discerned in this cheerless picture: the large Chechen Diaspora in Europe is aimed to become a serious political force so that to influence on the situation in the homeland and to convince Western politicians and public opinion of the necessity to demand that Russia should end the bloody war.
Besides, the thought that, at least, these people are now beyond the Russian authorities' reach is soothing.
Author: Andrey Babitsky, Prague Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
