Ukraine: Whether Ukrainians living abroad are subject to extortion by Ukraine customs, immigration officials and their criminal associates upon return to Ukraine; state protection (2000-July 2002)

Information specifically concerning criminal activity faced by Ukrainians returning to Ukraine from abroad, or state protection thereof, was not found among sources consulted. A number of recent Responses concern the issue of criminality and corruption in Ukraine, namely UKR39195.E of 11 July 2002, UKR38620.E of 4 March 2002 and UKR34759.E of 25 August 2000.

According to a 1997 report, Ukraine was referred to as having a "level of corruption" that was "breathtaking" (RFE/RL 15 Apr. 1997). One report noted that "subtle or overt, almost undisguised demands" for bribes by customs officials is a feature of travel in Ukraine (Day 5 Dec. 2000). In an interview held the same year however, the chairman of the State Customs Service denied the existence of an "organized system of corruption and bribery ranging from a rank-and-file customs inspector to an official in Kiev" (Segodnya 26 Jan. 2000).

More recently, a number of articles denote corruption among Ukrainian state structures including customs and border entry officials. One Ukrainian television report stated that "[s]tate, local council and tax officials, and the police and customs officers are the most corrupt in Ukraine" (STB TV 15 May 2002). Ukrainian border crossings were described as "under-equipped and under staffed" where custom officials "are poorly paid and reports of corruption are frequent" (Reuters 3 June 2002). In one case specifically concerning the Ukrainian immigration service, two Indian students were twice returned to India "within a span of one week" after they "refused to pay the $7000 bribe that officials at Kiev airport allegedly asked them to pay" (Hindustan Times 27 Feb. 2001). The individuals claimed that they "told the immigration officials that they did not have that much money ... [h]owever, the officials told them that they will be deported" (ibid).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Day [Kiev]. 5 December 2000. Mykhailo Zubar. "Want the Green Line? Pay!" [Accessed 29 July 2002]

Hindustan Times [New Delhi]. 27 February 2001. "Ordeal of Two Medical Students in Ukraine." (NEXIS).

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 15 April 1997. Ron Synovitz. "Western Press Review: Economic Reform and Corruption in the East." [Accessed 30 July 2002]

Reuters. 3 June 2002. "Ukraine Border Town Fears Isolation as EU Expands." Hosted by Brama.com [Accessed 30 July 2002]

Segodnya [Kiev, in Russian]. 26 January 2000. "Ukrainian Customs Chief Denies Organized Corruption in His Service." (BBC Monitoring 9 Feb. 2000/NEXIS).

STB TV [Kiev]. 15 May 2002. "Ukraine's Acting Prosecutor-General Plays Down Scale of Corruption." (NEXIS).

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

NEXIS

Unsuccessful attempt to contact the Ukrainian Canadian Congress

Internet sites including:

Borders of Ukraine

Den'

Embassy of the Ukraine to the United States of America

European Country of Origin Information Network

Global Corruption Report 2001

Internews

Johnson's Russia List

Pravda

Tacis Guide - Living and Working in Ukraine

Transparency International

Travel Document Systems

Ukraine Archive

Ukraine. Ministry of Justice

Ukraine.com

Ukrainian Canadian Congress

Ukrainian World Congress

World News Connection