Olga’s story
I didn’t have doubts regarding the Russian citizenship renunciation. It wasn’t even a choice for me. I love my country and my nation and believe that we are bound to succeed, so I couldn’t go against my heart and take part in meanness and treachery. I don’t collect citizenship and passports. I was aware of future problems and kind of understood what thing I was going to do, and I don’t regret my decision.
Since the moment when the information about the possibility to renounce the imposed “citizenship” appeared, I had visited local departments and passport offices every day in order to find a place where applications were received. I searched in the Internet, we organized a group in FB and shared the information.
On the second day after the office for registration of applications has started to operate, I wrote the application of renunciation. But it was not really the application of renunciation. The application statement was: “I wish to retain the existing Ukrainian citizenship for myself and my minor son.” Now FSB emphasized that I didn’t renounce the Russian citizenship, but just retained the Ukrainian one.
As for documents, I provided copies and originals of my passport with registration and my child’s birth certificate. Instead, I received an unstamped certificate. My information was recorded into a special register and I was asked about my nationality.
Next, I found out what documents and certificates were needed, made copies of the passport, real estate documents, fought the family composition certificate and a copy of form No.16 at the housing and utilities department.
Then a useless two-week epic with making the assault on FMS that had no results started and I decided to take at least a few days of respite. During this period requirements and conditions of getting a residence permit have changed once again.
I had a medical examination, received a certificate that I had no infectious, venereal and skin diseases and went to the second round of assault. Having forced my way, I learned that the validity of the family composition certificate is 10 days. Another siege of the housing and utilities department brought me the desired trophy, and I went to the third circle. I was checking out at the list every two hours for two days, on the third day I got an appointment, where I was informed that the medical certificate has expired. In addition, I was told to provide a certificate of income of not less than 30 000 rubles a month or a bank account statement that I had this sum of money. These requirements had nothing in common with the “simplified” procedure of getting a residence permit and I made an appointment to the head of the FMS department. It was virtually impossible to get there. FMS workers themselves didn’t have any information, there were no clear instructions, information was changing with kaleidoscopic speed.
Then I decided to slow down, get everything necessary, make sure that all certificates are valid, and then take the next attempt. Along with all that, I had to work.
At that time I met my old friend, former employee of the State Security Service of Ukraine and now the FSB, who said that someone provided FSB with information against me, and advised me not to discuss my political views with anyone. I took note of this.
When I obtained another package of certificates, copies, except the income certificate that I could get nowhere, I took the fourth attempt. After a few days of my life spent near the FMS department, I sat on a cherished chair. A lady with computer was sitting in front of me, she took my documents, look through them and I wrote another application along with stupid form and complete autobiography. The lady didn’t make any remarks to me, started to feed information into computer and then told me that I had no income certificate. I gave her a copy of the list of required documents for the simplified procedure of getting a residence permit, but she said me that she had no idea about that. She offered to leave the documents to her, and then bring the certificate. Once again I left with nothing but with bad suspicions.
I found my friend and asked him to clear up the situation. A week later, he said that there were already three reports against me and a thin file was created.
I wouldn’t receive a residence permit under any circumstances due to my past activities: participation in protest actions against the occupation, support for the Ukrainian military, in general, clearly demonstrated disloyalty to the occupation authorities.
After that I focused on making the Ukrainian children travel certificate for my son. He would approach 14 in one and a half month and according to Russian laws, he should receive a Russian passport. At that point of time children older than 14 years without a Ukrainian passport were not allowed to leave Crimea. I needed a children travel certificate to prove that my son was a minor citizen of Ukraine.
I prepared passports for myself and my son in the Novotroitsk passport office. I am very grateful to the head Viktor Aleksandrovich and his staff. In spite of a crazy load, they show angelic patience, loyalty, interest, help even out of working hours.
As a result, the Russian authorities consider me only as a foreigner at this time. I don’t have the rights for education and health services, I don’t have the right to work. We are nobodies in our own home.
Buying a health insurance provides only emergency care. The situation with the school is not clear for me, because the gymnasium headmaster said that my son could study only up to the end of March but he haven’t been expelled from school yet.
Before the New Year I was summoned for conversation to FSB for the first time. They tried mainly to figure out whether I knew Crimeans, who participated in Maydan protests, found out my social circle, handed a warning on the impermissibility of violating the laws of the Russian Federation along with their list and possible liability.
Starting from March 16, they began to pressure. They called to my boss, warned that I am a person at extremist risk and said about possible withdrawal of electronic storage media from the office. On Friday, March 20, my son and 13 children accompanied by their class teacher were taken by bus to unknown destination for “conversation” during school hours, without my knowledge and permission; they were held there for 4.5 hours. They frightened my child very much. In the night from Friday to Saturday I received a call from a number starting with the code 495 but the phone kept silent.
On Saturday at 7 am I got a call from FSB and was invited for another “conversation” at 9 o’clock at the department “E” at Pushkin Street. There was another interrogation there, they fingerprinted, conducted drug tests and warned in clear that they could imprison or deport me, and, perhaps, I could be found beaten near the entrance. They advised me to be deported by my own.
I found a job at the mainland, now I settle all technical questions in Simferopol and get ready to leave, because I am very afraid for my son. There is no even a vague idea of rights and the rule of law in Crimea.
