168 Zham: EU member states 'step up deportation of Armenians'

As part of their tightening migration policies, member states of the European Union have stepped up the forced expatriation of Armenian citizens, citing last year’s political developments in the country as a positive factor motivating their return, the paper has learned.

They have reportedly organized the third charter flight, deporting also those citizens who received a political asylum in many countries (given that the asylum issue is discussed every three years, whereas after the 2018 political transitions, Armenia is regarded as a safe and democratic country for the EU).

The member states cite also the EU-Armenia Readmission Agreement, which outlines special measures for the identification and readmission of those who were found in breach of the entry and residence rules.

With many of the deported Armenians facing stress upon their return, the Migration Service has now opened a special support center to elaborate an emergency assistance program in aid to those people, a spokesperson for the service has told a correspondent of 168 Zham. Temporary residence for the beneficiaries (at least for a month’s period) and their employment issues are said to be among the newly launched agency’s major concerns.

An employee of the Migration Service told the paper that the tough migration rules apply even to cancer patients who seek asylum in Germany and other member states (in anticipation of the necessary medical assistance). “We recommend against selecting that path – going and surrendering [to the member states’ authorities] – in the hope of a better life or a full-fledged treatment,” the source was quoted as saying.

Only those who are feared to die on their way back are not deported (as a humanitarian gesture), with the patients having the medical guarantees of returning alive facing the tough measure. “In such cases, the Migration Service sends motions to the Ministry of Health, so we are now trying to get the procedures under way individually until we obtain the general category to decide on future measures,” the source added.