"I will not fight!" - But no asylum in Germany for Ukrainian men refusing to go to war; Ukrainian ambassador sabotages their asylum
http://fortruss.blogspot.ru/2016/01/i-will-not-fight-but-no-asylum-in.html
Ukrainians facing deportation - Thousands of Ukrainian refugees in Germany are receiving requests to leave; they have hardly any chance of asylum. Neighbors and friends are fighting against their deportation.
Thousands of Ukrainian refugees in Germany are threatened with deportation. More than 7,000 Ukrainians have fled to Germany because of the war in the east and have asked for asylum here.
Many of them have received negative decisions in the last few weeks,
including the Nykonchuk family, and Grigorij Demnychenko. They came with a Schengen visa into the country, thus subject to the Dublin regulation. Their applications must be reviewed by the EU Member States that had granted the Visa.
Some of the escapees are directly from the war zone, so the family Nykonchuk. Others wanted no part of a war which they reject. Especially last winter, when the government in Kiev was calling up more and more men for the fight against the separatists and their Russian support, many left the country, including Grigorij Demnychenko. He currently lives with six other Ukrainians in a house for refugees in Bavarian Kitzingen. Shortly after he applied for asylum in April, the local authority at Zirndorf informed him that Poland, not Germany, was responsible for him, because Demnychenko came in with a Polish tourist visa.
They want no part of the war
Demnychenko is 27 years old, is an electrical engineer, and is a godsend for the midsize company FEZ Electronics in Bibergau. "We've been looking for someone for a long time, but we found no Germans, so the boss thought, let's just ask among the asylum seekers," reported the company spokesman Andrea Gumbmann. The company hired two refugees and is happy with their job performance. "We're hoping they stay with us."
The Nykonchuk family has a similar story. Father Sergei, mother Lena, and the daughters Albina (16) and Ella (14) came in April from embattled Donetsk into Bavarian Rauhenebrach. The father has a steady job in a construction company, the family was independent of government assistance, the daughters were in normal school classes, but they are threatened at anytime with deportation to Spain.
The Nykonchuks indeed came directly to Germany, but with a Spanish visa, because it was easier to get. To avoid getting deported, the family now lives in a Protestant congregation in church asylum. They want to hold out until the end of March, when the deportation order will be six months past, and Germany is responsible for them.
Grigorij Demnychenko and the Nykonchuks are examples of many cases of Ukrainians who could serve as role models for integration.
Unfortunately, given the current refugee debate in Germany, they have to worry about being expelled. Just last week politicians from the CSU [Christian Social Union] party requested that Ukraine be declared a safe country of origin. Already a Ukrainian asylum seeker is hardly recognized in Germany as a refugee.
Ukrainian asylum rejections
In the years 2014 and 2015 some 7,000 Ukrainians came to Germany, applying for asylum. Most of them came last year; there are slightly more men than women among applicants.
When Demnychenko talks about his case, his words come fast, the voice gets louder. He fears that he would be recognized, and would face persecution back home. [Like Ruslan Kotsaba! --tr] All the more so because of Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Andrij Melnyk, asserting that deserters have nothing to fear: "These men shouldn't have any fear of prosecution or baiting" Melnyk proclaimed in October.
But the case of Ruslan Kotsaba is evidence that the reality is different. The Ukrainian journalist publicly stated a year ago that he would refuse induction into the army, and was jailed and is being charged with treason.
Demnychenko himself reports there's a poisoned atmosphere in his hometown in Nikopol, Central Ukraine. Two acquaintances were attacked because they had not served. "The guys who've been at the front, are now threatening those who did not fight, that's a madhouse," he says. He points to cell phone pictures of the injured friends. They were cut with knives in the face.
The Nykonchuks report discrimination after their escape from the war zone into Western Ukraine. They could not get work or even a place to live.
Legally, Demnychenko's case and others like it are clear: given the Polish or Spanish visas to other countries, they are responsible for the issue of asylum. On top of that, war is not in itself a reason for asylum. The battle area is also localized. Demnychenko, when these factors are recited to him in the interview, takes a deep breath and reports of other attacks in his home, on women who are abused because their men did not serve, and of broken friendships, and his cousin, who is at the front and sends him pictures of ruined neighborhoods.
"I will not fight," says the 27-year-old, "I just want to live normally."
Pyatt - Godfather of Ukrainian Revolution Helping Ukraine to Defend Itself ... From Itself. (Video)
http://fortruss.blogspot.com/2016/01/pyatt-godfather-of-ukrainian-revolution.html
"Last week, I had the pleasure of joining Maj. Gen. Gregory J. Lengyel, Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR), on his trip to Khmelnytskyi, where U.S. forces from the 10th Special Forces Group are training Ukrainian special operations forces as part of the Joint Multinational Training Group – Ukraine.
and Ukrainian Special Operations Forces Commander Major General Luniov on the status of Ukraine’s special operations reform efforts, and to witness first-hand the classroom and field training U.S. and Allied special operations forces are providing Ukrainian special forces to enhance Ukraine’s capability to defend itself in the face of relentless Russian aggression.
At Khmelnitsky, U.S. special operations forces are providing training on a wide array of military specialties — medical, marksmanship, construction and demolition, communications, and technology. I was incredibly impressed. Ukraine’s new special operations recruits show great promise, and include many brave soldiers who’ve already served in the ATO, including one of the Cyborgs who had helped defend the Donetsk Airport. I felt incredibly honored when he presented me with his unit patch.
Our training at Khmelnytskyi is taking place at the invitation of the Ukrainian government, and reflects the commitment of the United States to help Ukraine build a professional, NATO-standard fighting force. Since 2014, we have provided more than $266 million in equipment and training to help Ukrainian forces better monitor and secure their border, operate more safely and effectively, and defend their country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
What I saw on my trip reaffirmed my confidence that the Ukrainian military is committed to moving forward with the process of reform — moving toward European institutions, a NATO-standard military, a NATO-standard special forces capability. We’re very proud that the United States is part of that project.
Ukraine to Cancel Free Healthcare and Close "Extra" Hospitals
http://fortruss.blogspot.com/2016/01/ukraine-to-cancel-free-healthcare-and.html
In the near future Kiev will cancel free medicine in Ukraine. The Ministry of Health will present a reform strategy and will announce the tariffs for paid medicine.
This was reported by the Ukrainian edition of "Vesti".
The reform implies that only a minimal amount of free services will remain, the rest will have involve payment. A trip to the doctor, for example, will cost 100-150 USD.
The strategy of reform proposes to repeal article 49 of the Constitution, which guarantees Ukrainians free medicine.
"The first thing that was suggested was to issue a minimum insurance package that will be paid for by the state budget. It will be available to all. But for seniors, children, students and disabled people there will be a lot more money available than for the able. Those who are employed should be insured by employers. In addition, they will be able to buy health insurance," said one of the advocates of reform, Chairman of CF "Patients of Ukraine" Dmytro Sherembey.
At a minimum the package will include simple tests and vaccinations, the cost of treatment of diabetes, HIV and mental illness.
"Ambulances and delivery will also be free for everyone. But dentistry, non-urgent surgery — all paid, I see no other way," said another member of the expert Council on reform, Andriy Huk.
On the agenda is another component of the reform — reducing the number of hospitals.
"Why does one city need a city and regional maternity ward? They can grow in size, and some can vacate so that, for example, private clinics can be opened. This will create specialized centres. Maybe you come with pain in the ear, but it turns out you have a swollen lymph node and you need to enter another specialist clinic, for example. There will be vouchers for travel from one hospital to another or for finding another solution," said the officials.
Putin : "Transfer of Donbass to Ukraine in the USSR Was Unjustified"
http://fortruss.blogspot.ru/2016/01/putin-transfer-of-donbass-to-ukraine-in.html
The President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin at the Interregional forum of the popular front stated the groundlessness of the transfer of Donbass to Ukraine during Soviet times.
"Moreover, that at a border of multi-ethnicity, in fact, of a unitary state, with borders remotely determined arbitrarily are not always justified. Well, so they put Donbass into Ukraine. Under what pretext? The rising interest of the proletariat in Ukraine for there to be more social support there. Well just look at such nonsense! And this is not the only example," he said.