The IOM Moscow Times International Organization for Migration Moscow, Russia Issue 4, September 2005 12, 2-aya Zvenigorodskaya, 123100, Moscow Tel 7 (095) 797-87-22 Fax 7 (095) 253-35-22 [email protected], www.iom.int INSIDE THE ISSUE: represented by 30 representatives while the entire number of participants from CIS and Western countries exceeded 90 individuals. • Joint Consultations On Migration Based on the conclusions of the conference and recommendations of • Migration Should Be Encouraged But Properly the participating states IOM is in the process of developing the Road Managed Map, a document, that will not only reflect current situation in the field • Voluntary Return Of Illegal Migrants – An of migration in the Eurasian region but also provide findings for Alternative To Deportation mutual decisions in migration management. • Free Movement, secure Borders: Analyzing The The Joint Consultations was well-covered by Russian and foreign Facilitated Transit Scheme Between The mass media and IOM’s initiatives in the region drew a very positive Russian Federation And Lithuania response from the Russian Government. • IOM Information Activities • Moscow Migrant Processing and Movement • Meskhetian Turk’s Programme • Medical Assessment of Afghan Refugees in Uzbekistan • IOM Moscow Migration Research Programme (MMRP) • Assistance to Roma-Holocaust survivors • IOM Moscow and Krasnodar offices JOINT CONSULTATIONS ON MIGRATION THE DIALOGUE AND TECHNICAL CAPACITY BUILDING IN MIGRATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME FOR CENTRAL ASIA, THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN JCM participants in Moscow, 22-24 August 2005 22 -24 August 2005, Moscow “MIGRATION SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED BUT PROPERLY MANAGED” IOM has concluded the EC funded “Dialogue and Technical Capacity Building in Migration Management Program for the Central Asia, the This opinion was expressed by Mark Getchell and Michael Tschanz, Russian Federation, Afghanistan and Pakistan” with the third Joint the Chiefs of their respective Missions in Moscow and Almaty of the Consultations on Migration that took place in Moscow on 22-24 International Organization for Migration during the working meeting August 2005. Concerns in Eastern Europe and Central Asia on how with the boarder guards and law enforcement officials of Kazakhstan best to plan and manage labour migration against a backdrop of and the Russian Federation. The partners of the project discussed growing irregular migration, counter trafficking initiative, security the results of the Programme dealing with the management of worries and increasingly diversified migration flows were among the migration issues in the countries of Central Asia, Russia, Afghanistan key discussions held by representatives of European and Asian and Pakistan. The over-arching project of which this activity was a states during this three day long event. part is entitled “Dialogue and Technical Capacity Buildingin Migration The level and number of participants reflect the importance of Management in the Countries of Central Asia, the Russian discussed topics. The Russian Federation in particular was Federation, Afghanistan and Pakistan.” The IOM Moscow Times, Issue 4 1 Vladimir Tsarev, Head of the Migration Office of GUVD (Central Department of Internal Affairs) in the Astrakhan oblast, during the discussions on the migration situation in the oblast and on the results of this IOM Programme in the Astrakhan oblast. The project saw the introduction of a radio communication system that now facilitates operational interaction of the Russian units and departments of the border and immigration control at the project site. The project also helped enhance and modernize the technical equipment used for document control on trains and at the Karauzek check point for vehicles. The joint working group composed of representatives of the Russian and Kazakh authorities as well as IOM Moscow and Almaty Missions had an opportunity to inspect the technical equipment provided by IOM and see it in action. A series of meetings and a press-conference took place in the office of the Astrakhan Oblast Administration. The participants of the meetings rated the results of the project very highly and suggested appealing to the donor countries for further funding to support similar projects in the region based on the severe need to upgrade additional border Press conference at the Governor’s Office in Astrakhan Region areas. On the 13 – 15th of June 2005, IOM Missions of the Russian VOLUNTARY RETURN OF ILLEGAL MIGRANTS – AN Federation and Kazakhstan arranged a joint trip to the Astrakhan- Atyrau boarder area between Russia and Kazakhstan, the project ALTERNATIVE TO DEPORTATION site where the pilot project on re-enforcement of the key check points is in effect. The pilot boarder project is one of the components of the On Tuesday, 27 June IOM Moscow rendered assistance to yet above-mentioned overarching programme, funded by the European another irregular-status migrant in Russia. Martin O. (not his real Commission. Officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Ministries name for privacy reasons) is a 27-year-old national of Ghana, who of Interior and Border Guard Services of both countries took part in was voluntarily returned to his homeland with the assistance of IOM this trip. Moscow. Martin had illegally crossed the Russian-Chinese border, The project is aimed at the creation of an effective system of was arrested and held in the Blagoveshensk detention center for immigration and border control at the Astrakhan-Atyrau border area about one year. After that he was sent to Moscow. The authorities that would expedite and streamline the procedure for legal boarder handed down the decision that he had to voluntarily depart Russia in crossing. At the same time, the project has worked to develop an the course of three days or face a prison sentence followed by effective mechanism of preventing illegal migration at those check deportation. Martin found himself in a very difficult situation – without points with some of the most intensive migration flows in Russia. documents, money or friends who could help him. He appealed for help to different organizations and finally the Moscow mosque suggested that he apply to the IOM Voluntary Return Programme . According to the Federal Migration Service of Russia, the deportation of illegal migrants is a very costly procedure. Last year only (2004), the purchase of tickets for 90 thousand migrants that were deported from Russia amounted to 54 million rubles out of the government’s budget. In addition, such irregular-status migrants appeared to be in very vulnerable situations in the deportation centers or on the streets without any documents or means of subsistence. Beginning from summer 2004, IOM Moscow started the Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) component of the of the EC-funded project entitled “Dialogue and Technical Capacity Building in Migration Management in the countries of Central Asia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.” The first step in the implementation of these activities was the establishment of working contacts with the representatives of the concerned ministries – Ministry of Interior, Federal Migration Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Border Checking migrants at the Border Check Point Karauzek (Astrakhan Guard Service. As a result of a common accord, a joint plan of Region) activities was developed. Working contacts were also established More then 350 thousand foreign nationals arrived in the Astrakhan with non-governmental organizations and regional offices of the oblast last year. While 35 thousand of this number was registered in migration service. the oblast, some 15 thousand stayed illegally while the rest transited As of 01July2005, participating IOM Missions have already provided to other areas of the country. It is estimated that 96% of the migrants assistance and return home for more than 100 migrants from are nationals from Central Asia. These figures were provided by countries participating in the Program. Out of this number IOM The IOM Moscow Times, Issue 4 2 Moscow assisted 43 migrants from Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan, analyze existing problems, provide practical recommendations (on Vietnam, China, Yemen, Syria and Ghana to return home. The operational level, leaving politics out). Along with other activities the Program foresees the direct assistance to vulnerable migrants and project includes the research conducted by IOM Moscow staff includes: a) provision of information on the availability of voluntary member who implemented the travel to Kaliningrad by train aiming to return assistance; b) securing necessary travel documentation undergo all the necessary procedures and see the process from the through relevant consular authorities; c) return transportation point of view of ordinary passengers. This report will be used for the arrangements; d) pre-embarkation formalities assistance; e) pre- final report of the project. departure medical screening ensuring fit-for-travel status and f) travel allowance or small reintegration grant. Buying train tickets to Kaliningrad IOM INFORMATION ACTIVITIES Migrant returning home IOM Moscow is continuing to make efforts for harmonization of the The developed and tested mechanism of IOM-assisted voluntary migration management process in Russia providing reliable and return is highly efficient and unbureaucratic and stands ready to actual information which on the one hand allows migrants to better assist both migrants and the government. It will