Ukraine: Reports of elderly individuals, particularly those with family members living outside of the country, being coerced to sell their homes; state protection available to such individuals (1997-September 2000)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 13 September 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | UKR35294.E |
| Reference | 5 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ukraine: Reports of elderly individuals, particularly those with family members living outside of the country, being coerced to sell their homes; state protection available to such individuals (1997-September 2000), 13 September 2000, UKR35294.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4bebcc.html [accessed 3 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No reports specifying elderly individuals with family members living outside of the country being coerced into selling their home could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. There are, however, several reports of persons, some elderly, being coerced into giving up their accommodation.
In a digest of criminal activities in Ukraine during the month of January 1999, the Regional Security Office of the American Embassy in Kiev stated that the Mykolayiv Regional Department of the Interior had
evidence of involvement of several officials in illicit apartment dealing and even in covering up a 12-strong member criminal group who used threats and abuse to take away private housing from elderly people, drug addicts and mentally handicapped individuals (1999).
On 1 February 1999, SBT TV in Kiev stated, without providing any information on the victims' identity, that six members of the Kerch city council in eastern Crimea had been arrested on charges related to the "extortion of flats and cars and illegal possession of arms." In April 1999, police officers arrested a "city mayor and three other men in Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula" on suspicion of involvement in the extortion of "money, cars, apartments and houses" (AP 7 Apr. 1999). According to AP, the "group was also suspected of beating victims" (ibid.), who were not identified in the report.
No information on state protection available to individuals coerced into selling their homes could be found. According to a country profile prepared by Freedom House, "corruption is pervasive at all levels of government. Bribery is common for services, education and in the police force" (Freedom in the World 1998-1999. 1999) The report also claimed that the "judiciary remains subject to political interference" and "many judges on the subnational level remain sensitive to pressures by the local administration" (ibid.). According to an Organized Crime Watch - NIS report published in December 1999,
Corruption is present not only among certain representatives of legislative and executive organs but also within the judiciary. The presence of corruption in judicial organs is confirmed by the results of the quality of work and integrity in state institutions, including in courts, which was conducted in 1997 by the Institute of Economic Development of the World Bank. Thus, more than 20 percent of citizens questioned who had had dealings with regional courts stated that they made additional payments to judges for favorable resolution of their cases.
However, the report further stated that the "law enforcement organs of Ukraine, within the framework of existing anti-corruption legislation, are working positively to expose and investigate corrupt acts and prevent corruption in government and administration" (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
Associated Press (AP). 7 April 1999. "Ukrainian Police Detain Mayor Suspected of Racketeering." (NEXIS)
Embassy of the United States, Kiev. 1999. "Crime Digest - January 1999."
Freedom in the World: The Annual Survey of Political Rights & Civil Liberties. 1998-1999. 1999. Edited by Adrian Karatnycky et al. New York: Freedom House.
Organized Crime Watch - NIS [Washington]. December 1999, Vol. 1, No. 6, pp. 8-11.
STB TV [Kiev, in Ukrainian]. 1 February 1999. "Ukraine: Seven Members of City Councils in Crimea Charged with Extortion." (BBC Worldwide Monitoring 1 May 1999/NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Country Reports 1998-1999.
World News Connection (WNC)
Internet sites including:
Amnesty International.
BBC. Search Engine. 1998-2000.
The Economist [London]. Search Engine. 1997-2000
International Federation of Human Rights Leagues.
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights.
International League for Human Rights.
Kyiv Post. Search Engine. 1997-2000.
Organized Crime Watch.
Union of Councils for Soviet Jews.
