ISLANDERS with relatives sheltering from Russian bombing raids in Ukraine have spoken of their despair after immigration laws prevented their families from seeking safe-haven in Jersey.
Two of those, Mariya Palmer and Lera Evered, say that a relaxation in restrictions prompted by the outbreak of the conflict still does not allow their cousin and sister, respectively, to travel to the Island. This is because the rules state that they are not ‘close family’.
Deputy Inna Gardiner said she was aware of 20 to 30 Islanders in a similar situation and has now issued an urgent plea to her ministerial colleagues to put pressure on the UK government to resolve the issue.
Under current rules, Ukrainians can only travel to Jersey if they are in receipt of a temporary UK visa but British embassies in the country have all closed.
Deputy Gardiner is also suggesting allowing Ukrainians to travel to Jersey first and then have their visa application processed afterwards – similar to policies implemented by other nations.
As Jersey is a member of the Common Travel Area, allowing free travel with other Crown Dependencies and Great Britain, it must align its immigration laws with the UK’s.
Deputy Gardiner said: ‘Why can we not just fly our relatives directly from Poland and process their visas on arrival? We need to encourage our government to put pressure on the UK government to get this changed.
‘We have people’s family here who are saying that they are willing to take them in their own houses – they do not need accommodation.’
Mariya Palmer, who lived in Kyiv until 2001, has been trying to get her sister, Olga, who has been sheltering in the basement of her home on the outskirts of the city, to Jersey.
‘There is no public transport and no taxis so she cannot get to the train station. There is also no food or supplies and the supermarkets have all closed, no medical access or pharmacies.
‘It is pretty tough for her. She has spent most of her time in the cellar hiding from bombing, especially during the evenings, and the sirens have been going off very often,’ she said.
The St Clement resident added: ‘It is extremely distressing. We should have been going to Kyiv last week but obviously that did not happen. We were hoping that she would come here instead but on Thursday it all started happening.
‘I would like to ask Jersey and the UK government to help families like us to bring their relatives to Britain who are suffering from war. We need to do everything we can to help them. I can understand why they would do it [restrict certain family members] but this is a different situation. She is the only one of my family left and she is living on her own.
‘We are not asking for any help from the government apart from granting her a visa so she can travel to a safe place. She will stay with us and we will pay for her living costs. We are not asking for any taxpayers’ money.’
Meanwhile, Lera Evered, who lived in Kyiv until 1996, explained how her cousin – who is due to give birth in two weeks – was currently stuck in Kyiv.
‘My aunt and her two children [in their 30s] are in Kyiv at the moment. My cousin is due to have a baby in two weeks and they are unable to travel – for health reasons but also for her safety. If they were to travel to the border they would have to go through a warzone. I have just received a video and the Putin troops have started to bomb civilians.
‘They are still hoping to travel to the border. My aunt is not going to leave her daughter behind. My cousin is not able to travel yet but as soon as she has a baby – God help her – then I really hope she will be able to get here,’ she said.
‘My aunty has had two children already 30 years ago so I have been having to tell her to remember how to deliver a baby.’
Ms Evered, who lives in St Helier, stressed that she was not against the Russian people and that the country’s soldiers – many of whom are conscripts aged between 18 and 20 – had not been aware they were attacking Ukraine until the last minute.
‘I am half-Russian myself. This war is about Putin and his government and Russia seems to be waking up. A lot of the Russian soldiers who have been taken prisoner in Ukraine – they have been given medical help and have been able to contact their family. They are all saying they did not know anything about this until the last minute when they were told “You are going there”.’
Home Affairs Minister Gregory Guida said the government was working with UK authorities to assist Ukrainians planning to come to Jersey.
He said: ‘The Government of Jersey fully recognises the distress that many Ukrainians are experiencing having to leave Ukraine and is offering ongoing advice to a number of people who have contacted both External Relations and Jersey Customs and Immigration Service.
‘The government is in close communication with UK authorities in the Home Office and has put in place concessions, aligned to those in the UK, to assist Ukrainians who intend to come to Jersey. As a Crown Dependency the Island aligns its immigration controls to that of the UK on the basis that any person who is granted entry to Jersey can travel freely to the UK and vice versa. Careful consideration is being given to any potential further concessions to assist Ukrainians wishing to come to Jersey.
‘External Relations is in direct communication with those who are intending to come to the Island, and commercial aircraft movements to the UK from Poland and other European are operating as normal.’
Anyone who requires advice concerning Ukrainian relatives who wish to come to Jersey is being asked to email externalrelations@gov.je.
