Blood and Soul: Putin Promises to Begin Granting Citizenship to Persecuted Russian Diaspora
The annual phone-in with the President is always a chance to resolve an issue and help a specific person. Irina Barakad, a translator from Ukraine, told Vladimir Putin about her complicated life situation. Two years ago, she was critically injured during a militant attack in Aleppo.
Dmitry Petrov, helped Irina send her message to the President.
In June 2016, Irina had come under fire. She lived in Aleppo, Syria at the time, and the region got attacked by the militants. They used handmade bombs, manufactured from gas tanks. One of such tanks flew into the house with her entire family in it. Irina saw it and was able to shield the children, seen in this picture, with her body. However, she was critically injured by the mine-blast. Two amputations and 5 days in a coma, we can't even imagine how Irina lived through all of it.
Irina Barakad: "I threw myself over them, spreading out my arm and leg, thus shielding my children".
She served Russia without even being an RF citizen. She helped our military diplomats from the Reconciliation Center carry out negotiations with the armed opposition. Russia's Minister of Defense had immediately ordered to transfer Irina to St. Petersburg for further treatment, once her condition became stable. The trip took almost 24 hours by air and by land, and her incredible will to live had helped her get through it. The doctors in the Military Medical Academy had operated her several dozen times over 2 years. They were able to preserve her left leg, and Irina can even step on it now. However, she needs further treatment, and she's in dire need of the President's help.
Irina Barakad: "This is what I used to look like. I want my normal life back, I want to walk again. But, I need good functional prostheses for that. However, prostheses are only available to Russian citizens, which I am not. The worst part is that I haven't seen my children or my husband for 2 years. We all miss each other so much. They can't visit me here because they are Syrian citizens. It's very hard for Syrians to come here, and I can't formally invite them because I'm a citizen of Ukraine".
President Putin: "Obviously, your situation is rather unique. What had happened to you is a horrible tragedy. I hope your kids know that their Mom is getting better. I sincerely wish for you to get well soon. I want to thank those military doctors who are treating you. We're all well aware of how serious your injuries are. I'll ask my colleagues in the MOD to locate your family and bring them to Russia. I will do what you're asking me for. As the RF President, I have the power to grant Russian citizenship, and you will get it".
Irina is very emotional right now, barely managing to answer all the calls from friends and family. She's overwhelmed with anticipation of finally seeing her kids. I just want to see them, hug them, I won't let them go. The Chiefs of the regional FMS MIA RF came to the hospital 30 minutes after Irina had talked to the President.
Vladimir Minchenko, Head of St. Petersburg's Directorate For Migration Affairs of the MIA RF: "We just discussed what can be done about your issue, and we'll help you prepare the paperwork to resolve it".
Tens of thousands of people who weren't born in Russia, but still consider themselves Russians by blood and spiritual beliefs, dream of acquiring Russian citizenship. Families of refugees from Donbass had attended the Direct Line in Bataysk.
"We want to be useful here, but we have encountered serious problems with paperwork. First, it's the 90-day law, which states that we have to leave for 90 days. But where will we go? Our homes are amidst combat activity".
Preparing the paperwork takes a lot of time. Letters of unemployment verification for those from LPR and DPR are too expensive. They're asking Vladimir Putin to expedite the citizenship acquiring process for people from LPR and DPR.
President Putin: "We've already discussed the situations in LPR and DPR, and in Donbass in general. This is a great bane for Ukraine and its people, as well as for our fellow citizens. You all know that I've always thought of Ukraine as our brotherly country and I basically see Russians and Ukrainians as one nation. I deeply believe that we need to liberalize the entire process of acquiring Russian citizenship".
Putin had offered Kolokoltsev, the Minister of The Interior to work on improving the current law.
Dmitry Petrov, Maria Gladkikh, Aleksandr Voronchenko, Vadim Prusov, Ivan Zamorin, and Mikhail Sarakaev. Vesti, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don.