Russian Delegation to Discuss Chechens’ Repatriation

A Russian delegation led by Igor Yunash, head of the Federal Migration Service of Russia, will arrive in Tbilisi on June 7 in order to hold talks concerning the repatriation of Chechen refugees living in Georgia.
 
It is anticipated that after holding talks with the Georgian authorities, the delegation will leave for the Pankisi Gorge in eastern Georgia and will meet with Chechen refugees there.  
 
Roughly 3,700 Chechen refugees, who fled from the second war in Chechnya in 1999, live in Pankisi at the moment. 
 
Similar Russian delegations have already visited Georgia two other times – last June and last September, in vain attempts to convince Chechen refugees to return to their native land.
 
The Chechens refrain from repatriating, claiming that their safety will not be guaranteed in Chechnya. The Chechen refugees instead seek to resettle in a third country.

According to the UN refugee agency’s (UNHCR) Tbilisi office, since 2003, 38 Chechens have already departed from Georgia and have resettled in different countries. 

At present, 17 cases have been accepted by their respective resettlement countries and are waiting to depart. The UNHCR hopes to be able to resettle approximately 100 cases in 2004.

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