- Madam Nemcova, from your experience, who comes to the Czech Republic from the former Soviet Union, from where, and with what purpose?
- A large number of Russians have come to the Czech Republic from the Caucasian republics and Central Asia. In these republics, conditions for them are currently not very good; in some places Russians are under a certain pressure not only from the authorities but also from other nationalities. These people come to the Czech Republic and ask for political asylum. Unfortunately, their chances are slim. Therefore, we advise them to process their documents under the law on the stay of foreigners rather than under the law on political asylum. It is realistic to start living in the Czech Republic and every year extend the residence permit. After a certain period, people can obtain permanent residence and live peacefully.
- Is it difficult to obtain a residence permit in the Czech Republic?
- To obtain a residence permit - it is always given for one year - a foreigner must state in an application to the alien police the purpose of his stay in the Czech Republic. In accordance with the law, the purpose can be studying at a Czech university, opening one's own company in the Czech Republic, or getting a job at a Czech company. This must necessarily be confirmed by documents.
- One gets the impression that nothing is simpler than getting a residence permit and starting a new life in the Czech Republic...
- The first years when a person lives on the so-called annual visa are quite difficult. A foreigner must pay more than Czechs for social and medical insurance, and it is difficult to find housing - he often has to pay an inflated, speculative sum for renting an apartment. But if you survive all this and wait until you receive permanent residence, then later it becomes easier. The permanent residence status gives foreigners exactly the same rights as Czechs, with the exception of suffrage and military duty. But, unfortunately, permanent residence can only be obtained after 10 years of living with a residence permit, which must be renewed every year. Permanent residence can also be obtained for humanitarian reasons. There are quite a few cases where people from the former Soviet Union received permanent residence precisely for humanitarian reasons.
- What would you advise people who are now waiting for political asylum to be granted in refugee camps?
- They should be patient, because the Ministry of the Interior makes decisions on such cases rather slowly, sometimes it lasts a year or more. I would recommend that they try to apply for a residence permit and take their fate into their own hands. If you ask for political asylum, you are unlikely to get it. And in general, your fate is decided by others - officials of the Czech Ministry of the Interior. With a residence permit, you are more dependent on yourself.
- How does the Helsinki Committee assess the conditions in Czech refugee camps?
- The conditions are standard, accommodation and food are quite decent. The problem is that people spend too much time here. As a non-governmental humanitarian organization, we hold various events in the camps with the sole purpose of entertaining the foreigners living there. For example, we organize various courses - from language courses to drawing courses. Life in a camp is not a bed of roses, but the situation in Czech camps does not differ from other European ones.