Estonian FM: we should offer Ukrainian refugees temporary asylum

Following the UN's call for European Union member states to receive Ukrainian refugees, Estonian Foreign Minister Keit Pentus-Rosimannus has said that if need be Estonia should also provide temporary asylum to refugees, Public Broadcasting reports.

Pentus-Rosimannus told Public Broadcasting's news portal that "people from Eastern Ukraine, people from the conflict zone, who have relatives in Estonia, should be allowed to go to their relatives".

"If necessary, we also have to offer temporary refuge. I consider this to be necessary and proper," said the foreign minister, praising Interior Minister Hanno Pevkur, who has given orders to accelerate the processing of asylum applications, and to take a humane approach.

Last week, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR sent a letter to all European countries, describing the situation in Ukraine and explaining that it is not possible for all of the large number of refugees to be safely relocated within Ukraine. The UN therefore recommended that member states, including Estonia, consider every case seriously, try to understand situation that Ukrainian refugees face and accept them.

According to the Ministry of Interior, in 2014, 58 citizens of Ukraine submitted applications for international protection in Estonia, of which 7 were refused. Interior Ministry press adviser Toomas Viks said that these were rejected either because the protection of the individual concerned was the responsibility of another member state or because the applicant came from a region of Ukraine where no military action has taken place. Eight persons withdrew their applications and gave up applying for asylum. As of February 11, a total of 43 applications were still in process. The Police and Border Guard board (PBGB) promised to make decisions regarding these as soon as possible.

The Ministry of the Interior confirmed that for each applicant who is from the area, which is not safe, the PBGB assesses individually whether it is possible to relocate, considering the person's age, health status and other factors. Viks said that first, the application is evaluated to see if the person can be granted the status of a refugee or if not, whether there is cause for granting additional protection.

In 2014, a total of 15,548 visas were issued to citizens of Ukraine, 538 of them long-term. Last year, PBGP also extended visas of 96 Ukrainians who had requested this. The causes for visa extension were force majeure, humane reasons and compelling personal reason. 1,087 residence permits were issued to Ukrainian citizens last year, and 608 residence permits were extended.