Moscow does not believe tears

Every day, dozens of citizens of Moldova are returned from their way to Russia, where, for years, they are earning their bread. In all this madness, workers from Moldova Railways (CFM ) note that, while the number of those who leave to Russian cities remains constant, the number of those who return home decreases. Moldovans refuse to come back, fearing that once returned they will not be allowed to go back to Russia, to work.

Official data shows that nearly 300 thousand Moldavian citizens are working in the Russian Federation, which at the moment is the country with the biggest number of workers from Moldova. Unofficial figures show that the number of people who earn their living in Russia is over half a million. Recently, the Federal Migration Service of Russia said that, almost 200 thousand of them, when they are identified, will be deported, because, they broke the rules of staying.

Alone at the border

Moldovans go to work to Russia because there, unlike in EU, they do not need visas, and the wages they earn are often equal to the wages they can get in the EU, moreover, they are several times higher than those earned at home. Daily, Moldavian citizens go to the largest Russian cities from the rail stations in Moldova, some from the airport. They usually leave for Moscow or St.Petersburg, looking for a well-paid job. In recent months, however, coincidentally or not, since the Republic of Moldova has decided to gain the EU, many of them do not reach their destination as simple as before. Daily, at Russian border, many are informed that they do not have the right to enter Russia, without explaining the reasons, so that, they are disembarked from the train and left to the will of fate.

Few days ago, on the site of the Moldovan Embassy in the Russian Federation was placed a press release on this subject, the information being officially confirmed. “Every day, citizens of Moldova are stopped at the border with the Russian Federation on the grounds that their entry is not permitted. This happens also because of irregularities that were recorded in the information system of the Federal Migration Service. The situation is complicated because of other reasons too. First, citizens are not given any explanations on the causes of the prohibitions of entry. Secondly, in Russia there are more than ten institutions that can establish such restrictions, but mostly because people are put in an extremely difficult situation, being practically forced to fend for themselves at the border. The Moldovan government has identified and released to date a special mechanism which requires land transport units, that are returning to Moldova, to have seats to transport home citizens whose access was not allowed in Russia”, reads the statement. To avoid any surprises at the border, the Russians have opened a website, where interested persons to go to Russia can see whether or not they have this right.

They do not return because they fear

“Recently, fewer go to Russia, but also return fewer. They do not return because, probably, they fear that when they want to return to work in Russia they will face certain problems”, notes Dinu Carp, Head of Chisinau Rail station. Daily, however, four trains leave to Russia, three of them – to Moscow. Many of those who leave know that there is danger of being turned away, but they try their luck.

“We’re going, because there is no other solution. Until the situation with Europe will be clear, we go to Russia”, told us a man, going to work. “I have a brother in law who, few days ago, was deported. He is not allowed to enter Russia for five years. He failed to perfect his right to work; meanwhile, they caught him undocumented and deported him. Now, they ward you off much easier than before. They find the simplest reasons. In general, now Russians mock the Moldovan citizens. Especially now, after Moldova has approached the EU. But, maybe they will calm down, when they see that they have no solutions”, another man who, on Tuesday, was waiting for the train Chisinau/Moscow at 11.55. told us. “Two weeks ago, I wanted to go to Moscow but, at the border, they turned me back without any explanations. They just said that I have no right to go into their country”, said another man, who was trying his luck to leave to Russia once again.

40 people, off the train

“If you breach, you are deported. If everything is fine, no one is returned”, says a wagon attendant. “It is true, lately, you are sent home much easier than before. Yes, many are taken off right at customs, because they broke something earlier, or because the documents are not ok. The situation is for a month and a half, nearly two”, he said.   „Many at customs are returned home. It happens because, previously, they stayed in Russia for more than three months, for having an unpaid fine there, because they did not stay there legally, or have committed a crime”, says another wagon attendant on the route Chisinau/Moscow.

“Yesterday (Monday, December 9), for instance, they took from our wagon two people. From the train, I do not know, I think 10-15. It happens that 40 people get off suddenly”, he continues. “People go back in large numbers, but, we come back with fewer passengers. People are afraid to return, as fear that they will not be able to go back to Russia. So, they stay there, regardless of the consequences”, said another MRS employee. Recently, the Russian authorities have announced that, from the beginning of the year, over 7,000 citizens of Moldova have been banned from entering the territory of the Russian Federation.

The members of the Customs Union, said that, not only, those who want to reach Russia have problems, but also those who are already there. And not only Moldovan citizens, but also some from other countries. An exception is Belarusians and Kazakhs, both countries being part of the Customs Union. “Now you are stopped in the street if they do not like your face and get you to questions. If you have an unpaid fine, they do not talk to you, they deport you. Until recently, it was not so strict. I had no problems because I did not go out much I stay mostly at home, at work”, told us, from Russia, Adrian, a young man who for a long time travels Chisinau/Moscow.

“Even in job advertisements there are changes. Previously, was written simply: “invite to work” now is written “we invite to work citizens of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan”. It all started before initialing, by Moldova in Vilnius, the Agreement with the EU”, notes Sergiu, another citizen of Moldova, gone to work in Russia”. A saleswoman from Moldova, next to a store near us, was deported. She was working there for many years, had an apartment, but cannot go back any more. It’s getting worse. I wanted to come home for the New Year, but I am not risking now”, told us another Moldavian from capital of Russia.

Victor MOŞNEAG