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revealing her personal potential, professionally
assisting in the realization of civil and social rights
Белоруска прилетела в Израиль на отдых, а попала за решетку. Посольство: Отказов становится больше
11.05.2018
In the spring, Minsk resident Alesya Forester decided to have a six-day vacation in Israel. I bought round-trip tickets, booked a hotel, and flew to Tel Aviv on April 26. But instead of the sea and the beach, she ended up behind bars. The girl still does not understand why she was not allowed into the country and why she was sent to a temporary detention center for three days.
"You — Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians — are coming to live with us illegally"
Belarusians do not need a visa to Israel. Entry permits, says Alesya, are issued upon arrival. From Tel Aviv, the girl planned to go to Netanya, but the passport control officer asked her to "go to the room."
— Why didn't she like me? I don't know," says the interlocutor. — She specified the purpose of the visit, I said: "Tourism". And that's it — that's the end of the questions.
Alesya was invited from the "room" for questioning. Then a man in uniform took the phone from her. Without asking permission, the Belarusian recalls, he checked her social networks, looked at photos, read personal correspondence. And then suddenly he started asking: "When did you have a fight with a guy?", "How often do you fight?".
— My great-aunt used to live in Israel. My uncle periodically flew to visit her, and I had his local number," says Alesya. — About two years ago, my grandmother was moved to Minsk, the trip ended, I deleted her number and forgot. But the inspector found it somehow. How? I don't know. He started asking, "You said you didn't have anyone in Israel. And who is this?" I explained, and he said, "Tell the truth." I answer, "I'm not lying." He: "All of you — Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians — are coming to live here illegally." "I had no such thought," I object and show him the return ticket.
The man in uniform was not convinced. Alesa was refused entry, the reason was explained as follows: "Suspicion of illegal migration."
"They sent me back to the room where I was waiting for the interrogation," the girl continues. "There were about ten people there. In tears, I approached the guard and asked, "Who can I ask when I'm going home?" He replied, "Sit and wait."
According to Alesya, she was ready to buy a ticket for the next flight to Minsk herself. In response, he remembers, they said: "Okay, but pay with a card." The Belarusian woman had only cash in her wallet.
— I don't know why they didn't allow me to do this, — the interlocutor does not hide her emotions.
When asked to meet with the consul, Alesya continues, she was asked to "shut her mouth." She managed to text the guy. It was late, and he was asleep.
"If you don't like something, you come to your country and file a lawsuit"
Later, Alyosha and the other passengers who were sitting with her "in the room" were taken somewhere. They didn't explain where.
— They brought us to the prison. It was a two—story building," the interviewee describes what is happening further. — They took my personal belongings — everything, even a comb and a lighter.
The Belarusian was sent to a cell for nine people. Women from Russia, Moldova, and Ukraine were sitting with her.
— The room is small, there is also a toilet and a shower room. There's nothing to breathe, the walls are covered with obscene words," Alesya describes the situation. — Judging by the inscriptions, there were many Belarusians there: from Vitebsk, Gomel and other cities. We were fed three times a day, the products are always the same: a small loaf and feta cheese. Sometimes they gave tangerines and more water. But there was no water to interrogate: I had to knock on the door.
On the second day, the interviewee continues, she was allowed to call home "for a minute." She says she only managed to tell me what happened.
— Did you demand a meeting with the consul?
— Yes, both on the first day and on the second, — Alesya answers. — They kept telling me: shut your mouth. They said if you don't like something, you come to your country and you can sue. And here you have to behave according to the position you occupy.
— Did you ask your relatives to contact the consul?
— My parents died, I've been alone for a long time, so I called a good friend. He said he would try to find out something, and asked me to stay in touch. However, I couldn't dial it anymore. I know he didn't get through to the consulate. Then there was Saturday, and it was the weekend.
Alesya did not ask for a lawyer, but when the lawyer came to one of the detainees, the Belarusian managed to consult.
— The lawyer was from Israel, — says the interlocutor. "She said you didn't break anything." It's just that you were denied entry, which happens a lot in Israel. Like, I'm a young girl, I flew in alone, suddenly I want to stay. The lawyer explained that I was supposed to be contacted by the consul. If I violated something, I should be sent to court, recognized as arrested, and only then brought here.
She did not become indignant, says the Belarusian. I thought it might be unsafe.
"I would like to receive compensation for three days behind bars"
On the evening of April 29, Alesya was taken to the airport. An security officer accompanied her all the way. He handed the girl's passport to the flight attendant. At 23:50, Alesya flew from Israel to Belarus.
— In Minsk, I called the Israeli embassy, — the interlocutor says. — The secretary, having heard my story, said: the consul will not talk to you.
The girl contacted the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.
— They told me that at the end of May, representatives of the ministry will fly to Israel. There, along with other issues, they will discuss mine. I don't know if this will happen, but I sent the letter, — the girl shares her worries and continues: — It is important for Belarusians flying to Israel to know that this could happen to them too. In addition, I would like to receive compensation for three days behind bars. After all, it's nerves and a ruined vacation. And no one will refund me the 550 dollars I spent on tickets.
"The visa-free regime does not oblige either Israel or Belarus to allow citizens of these countries into their territory"
The Israeli embassy in Belarus explained: the visa-free regime does not oblige either Israel or Belarus to allow citizens of these countries into their territory. In Israel, the reason for the ban could be, for example, a situation where a Belarusian, having not previously obtained a work visa, is going to enter here to earn money. Or, let's say, a person wants to visit close relatives who are in Israel on a long-term visa — for work, study, etc.
In situations where citizens of Belarus marry citizens of Israel, Belarusians cannot visit Israel as tourists. Entry is arranged separately.
If a person wants to make sure that their situation does not fall under the entry restrictions, diplomats recommend contacting the Israeli embassy in Minsk in advance for consultation. But in any case, the final decision is made by the Israeli border service. The embassy cannot guarantee entry permits.
The embassy also reminds: the ban on entry into Israel is not forever. In case of refusal of entry or if there is doubt that a person will be allowed across the border, their Israeli relatives or friends can contact the Israeli Interior Ministry and ask for an entry permit.
"When the simplified entry regime was introduced, migration control measures at the border were strengthened"
The Belarusian Embassy in Israel does not hide the fact that there are more and more refusals of entry to Belarusians. The number is "not threatening, but it clearly has an arithmetic progression." According to Igor Verigo, First Secretary for Consular Affairs, this issue has been discussed at a high level more than once.
"We have several meetings scheduled with the Israeli side in May, where we will once again express our high concern about the development of the situation," the source shares his plans.
In relation to immigrants from the former Soviet Union, the diplomat says, the Israeli side "very strictly applies the instructions on ensuring migration security." There are recommendations on entry to Israel on the website of the Belarusian Embassy in Israel and our Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
— The recommendations do not oblige us to anything, — Igor Verigo conveys the position of representatives of the Israeli Interior Ministry. — In their opinion, it is impossible to work out the advice, according to which the migration services will definitely allow entry into the country.
Some Belarusians mistakenly believe, the interlocutor notes, that if there is a "visa-free regime" with Israel, then you can come here to work for several months.
— Actually, this is not the case. For legal employment, you need to have a permit and get a visa," the interlocutor describes the situation. — After the simplified entry regime was introduced, migration control measures at the border were strengthened. According to the Israelis, the professional training of their border guards makes it possible to find out the actual purpose of the visit with the help of three or four questions.
For example, a person reports that he is traveling as a tourist. At the same time, he does not have enough money with him: the amount of 300?500 dollars is not much for a fairly expensive Israel. Suspicion may also be aroused by the questionable hotel that the visitor has booked, or by the fact that he cannot clearly explain the purpose of the visit.
"We often learn from his relatives that Belarusians were not allowed to enter Israel."
The diplomat reminds Belarusians who were not allowed to enter Israel and were sent to a temporary detention center: try to contact the consul and relatives.
— The Israeli side claims: they provide both a phone and numbers. Our citizens say that this does not always happen," the source continues. — We often learn from his relatives that Belarusians were not allowed to enter Israel. Sometimes, while a person's mobile phone has not yet been taken away and he has access to the Internet, he calls himself.
Another circumstance complicates the situation: legally, people who have arrived in the country and have not passed border control find themselves in the transit zone. It is difficult for a consul to intervene in such a situation: the actions of diplomats are limited by the territory. In this case, the territory of Israel.
According to international rules, a "non-entered" person must be sent on a flight with the same airline that they arrived with. However, they have the right to buy a ticket for another flight from Israel to any country at their own expense. It is desirable to return to their homeland or to a place where Belarusians do not need a visa. In our case, this is, for example, Ukraine or Russia.
— But here another question arises, — Igor Verigo clarifies the nuances. — According to Israeli regulations, he himself cannot buy this ticket. He needs to contact his relatives directly or through the consular department. Ask them to buy him a ticket and send it to the Israeli airport migration service by email. According to the ticket, the person should be allowed to board the plane. Unfortunately, this right is very difficult to exercise. We have only helped a few of our citizens in this way.
"Non-entered" Belarusians who have already returned home, the diplomat advises to challenge the decision of the Israeli authorities through the Israeli embassy in Minsk, and also to report this to the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.
— Discussing this issue with the Israeli side, we will get specific facts, — the interlocutor notes. — And these are important arguments for dialogue.
Source: www.tut.by
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