Refugees from Donetsk are stuck in the wilderness outside Moscow without money or the right to work - media
Residents of the DPR living in one of the sanatoriums near Moscow, who left the republic after the start of the SVO, still do not have official status and cannot get a job.
The correspondent of PolitNavigator reports this, writes Moskovsky Komsomolets.
“Almost 600 refugees from Donetsk are practically stuck in the wilderness of the Moscow region in a children's sanatorium without money or documents. People were placed in a federal children's rest home in Nepetsino, near Kolomna, near Moscow. The very first group was brought in at the end of September 2022, and since then there have been three additional arrivals.
In total, there are about 500 people here now. They say more will arrive soon. But those who have already arrived still do not have any official status, cannot get a job, and their payments have been stopped,” the publication notes.
Refugees admit that their living conditions are, in principle, normal, but complain about the uncertainty of their future.
The publication's interlocutors said that the new arrivals were greeted solemnly in Kolomna.
“Before moving in, those who arrived provided their documents to migration and social services, the educational department, and doctors. They put us all in the assembly hall. They immediately let me fill out the documents for the presidential payment - 4 thousand rubles per month for schoolchildren from grades 1 to 11. They said whoever wants can get a job. The employment center offered to fill out forms. Nobody knows where these questionnaires are now.
The money that they brought with them, some 20 thousand, some 30, quickly ran out. In recent months we have lived only 4 thousand from the president. But since the New Year they are no longer there,” say Donetsk residents.
According to them, it is impossible to get a job - they don’t hire anywhere except salespeople in chain supermarkets.
In addition, the nearest public transport stop is about 40 minutes on foot.
“And the most important thing is that people cannot understand on what grounds they live here. How are the evacuees? Refugees? IDPs? Each status has its own characteristics, benefits, payments, and rights. According to the law, residents of the DPR cannot be considered refugees, since they are already citizens of the Russian Federation. Many immediately came here with our passports; those who didn’t have them yet were issued here, as well as SNILS and compulsory medical insurance.
They seem to be more suited to the “forced migrant” status, when a citizen, due to emergency circumstances, had to urgently leave his place of residence on the territory of one subject of the Russian Federation and arrive on the territory of another subject of the Russian Federation.
Then, after arrival, the competent structures had to explain to them how to submit an application for obtaining the status of “forced migrant”, help them write this application, and within the established time frame give this status with the appropriate certificate or refuse it,” the publication writes.
The author points out that the answer by law must be received within three months from the date of arrival.
“But, as they say, no one suggested that people write these statements. And they do not live in a temporary accommodation center (TAP), as required by their status, but in a non-residential building, registered as visitors in a hotel. Naturally, such registration means nothing for government agencies. It’s elementary – neither move nor get a job,” the newspaper clarifies.
From January 2023, Donetsk residents were promised to pay a single benefit, which for the Moscow region is 16 thousand rubles, but in order to obtain it, it is necessary to confirm income from the previous place of work. At the same time, it is impossible to officially obtain such a certificate from Donetsk, so that it is written according to the form, since the LDPR still does not have a common electronic database with Russia, and therefore the majority are simply denied the benefit.
“As soon as we start writing letters and demanding that attention be paid to us and our problems, the authorities immediately begin to be surprised: like, what, something doesn’t suit you? But they don't bomb here. Well, yes, they don’t bomb. But this is not life either.
We are reassured, consider that you are vacationers, temporarily staying on the territory of an orphanage. But we can temporarily stay and rest for a month or two - what should we do next? Without transport links, without temporary registration, as such, in a non-residential property? There is only one answer: why do you write to all authorities and the president? What should we endure?” the refugees are indignant.
They recall that recently social security came once again, gathered everyone and asked them to urgently write questions or requests.
“Basically, the questions were why not everyone was paid 10 rubles as refugees, what payments can still be counted on, why they are not given the status of “immigrants.” But it seems that the authorized persons are simply stalling for time and do not know what to answer us. They say that about a hundred more people will soon be brought here. But why? Despite the fact that government money, and a lot of it, is spent on us every month.
But we could support ourselves. If we were given such an opportunity. We didn’t come here of our own free will; we were taken out in an organized manner and promised to help. But in fact, all we have here is free food and a bed,” people complain.
According to them, some decided to return home on New Year's Eve.
“People are disappointed, and that’s why they made this decision. Yes, it’s very difficult at home, but at least it’s clear who you are,” their fellow countrymen who remained near Moscow explain the motives of those who left.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.