Three citizens of Russia have applied for refugee status with the Ukrainian State Border Service over the past week.
“One of them has arrived this morning at the Kyiv-Pasazhyrsky checkpoint and, while undergoing formalities, made an oral request that he be recognized as a refugee or a person in need of special protection. The Russian said he had taken part in rallies against corruption and in support of the Russian opposition, including Alexei Navalny, and therefore he is being persecuted in Russia,” the Ukrainian State Border Service reported on Saturday.
Another Russian citizen had also applied for refugee status at the same checkpoint on Wednesday, November 29, it said.
“The Russian said he had to flee and seek asylum in Ukraine because of his persecution by Russian law enforcement agencies for taking part in demonstrations against the Russian government,” it said.
One more Russian citizen had asked for protection at a checkpoint in Chernihiv region last Tuesday.
“Officers of the Ukrainian State Border Service informed the Russian citizens of the procedure of applying for protection in line with Ukrainian law and directed them to the Ukrainian State Migration Service’s department,” it said.
