JERSEY could shelter Ukrainian refugees with immediate family already in the Island, it has been confirmed.
A government taskforce has been launched to support Ukrainian nationals living here and the authorities have highlighted that immigration routes to allow family members of British nationals to come to Jersey are in place.
Deputy Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham said that images emerging from the eastern European country yesterday were ‘deeply disturbing’ and ministers and officials were ‘closely monitoring developments’.
He added: ‘We want to do all we can to help Ukrainian nationals who are living in Jersey, so we have tasked a small group of officers to support them directly.
‘Officers have already been in touch with several families and any others who require advice or assistance can email externalrelations@gov.je, where officers are waiting to respond with the relevant information.
‘There is an existing immigration route to allow Ukrainian nationals who are immediate family members [spouses, children, dependent parents] of British nationals to come to Jersey.’
Senator Farnham also said that Jersey was ‘fully alongside’ the United Kingdom in its condemnation of Russia’s ‘aggressive action’.
‘The UK is ultimately responsible for our foreign relations as a matter of international law, and we implement both UK and UN sanctions,’ he added.
Meanwhile, External Relations Minister Ian Gorst said that all Russians, Belorussians and Ukrainians living in the Island would continue to be a ‘welcome part of our community’.
‘We understand that there is concern about the situation in their homelands and we will continue to take the actions agreed by the UK and its allies,’ the minister said.
He added that Jersey ‘fully supports’ the UK’s imposition of sanctions on Russia and would ‘act in line with its response’.
‘We implement both UK and UN sanctions. Our ongoing implementation of these sanctions shows that we are aligned with the UK,’ he said.
