The Council of Europe has revealed the methods being used to try to get rid of Ukrainian refugees
Michael O'Flaherty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that certain European Union countries are using pressure tactics against Ukrainian refugees to encourage them to return to Ukraine.
According to O’Flaherty, there is a trend in Europe toward “cutting back” on assistance for our citizens.
“I have seen cuts to social benefits, which create serious difficulties for people. I have seen cuts to housing programs. It’s fine if a person can afford to rent a home. But for retirees and people without financial resources, this is a major problem,” he noted.
Pensioners and those without personal savings have proven to be particularly vulnerable to financial pressure; for them, the loss of support becomes a critical life issue.
Alongside economic constraints, levels of hostility toward forced migrants are rising in some countries, although, according to the commissioner, this phenomenon is not widespread.
The official emphasized that Ukrainians have become a target of anti-immigrant rhetoric, which is actively used by far-right political forces.
“Ukrainians are caught up in the general anti-immigrant rhetoric of far-right forces, which want to blame migrants for all of society’s problems. This is populist nonsense, and it must be combated. It is very dangerous,” O’Flaherty stressed.
The Commissioner suggests that the shift in local public sentiment may have been caused by an excessive focus on the generous support provided to Ukrainians during the initial stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
However, he is convinced that refugee policy should not be taken to the point of forcibly evicting people who still need international protection.
Michael O’Flaherty shared these views during an interview with RBC-Ukraine, drawing on his own observations and the stories of people with whom he has spoken personally.
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