Another wave of immigration is taking place in the world, and Ukraine is close to it, if not smack in its very epicenter. The sociological firm Research and Branding says that Ukraine’s neighbor, Russia, ranks second after the US in terms of immigration levels.
Ukraine’s official statistics are also graphic proof of an increase in the number of migrant laborers from Africa and Asia and temporary residents. Already in 2001 there were 168,000 foreigners with permanent resident status in Ukraine, along with 83,000 stateless persons and 40,000 individuals who could not name their native country. Since people are migrating all over the world and borders cannot be sealed shut, ignoring migration problems is no solution. They have to be settled on the spot.
Racism and xenophobia are two problems that are emerging in Ukraine. Civic organizations, including Amnesty International, are demanding that the Ministry of Internal Affairs call a spade a spade and acknowledge the presence of racism and xenophobia in this country. Experts cite a number of cases of foreigners (usually dark- skinned people) being attacked, intimidated, and even killed. Since the beginning of this year there have been 30 cases in Kyiv, including four fatalities.
Nicola Duckworth, Amnesty International’s Europe and Central Asia Program Director, said that her organization is working on this problem in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration and with support from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. A task force known as the Diversity Initiative has been created, and recommendations for the Ukrainian government to better protect foreigners in Ukraine have already been formulated.
“We also provided the government with current data in a detailed report entitled ‘Ukraine: Government Must Act to Stop Racial Discrimination.’ Not so long ago, several ministries formed departments to combat racism and xenophobia. Unfortunately, officials are continuing to deny the existence of any problem, claiming that these are ‘isolated cases of everyday racism,’” Duckworth said.
This is the main reason for Amnesty International’s anxiety. Its experts insist that Articles 161 and 67 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which refer to racist crimes, are seldom applied. As a rule, such crimes are described as acts of hooliganism. Another problem pinpointed by experts is the oblique phrasing in Ukrainian legislation of what is construed as racism.
It is obvious that before long Ukraine’s civic organizations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office will have to cope with a great deal of work in order to coordinate their differentiated activities. Experts say that foreigners in Ukraine, particularly those who reside in Kyiv, should organize themselves. According to Dina Good, who has been working with refugees in Kyiv for the past 10 years, foreigners should establish ethnic communities in Kyiv. “Many foreigners have been living in the capital city for a long time. These people have families, they have learned Ukrainian or Russian, they are employed, they are paying taxes, and they are adapting to Kyiv. I say to them and to all newcomers: unite and support each other. Make sure you know what’s going on and find out how your fellow countrymen are living in Kyiv. Then you will stop feeling lonely.”
