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ARMENIANS SEEKING ASSYLUM IN FRANCE ON THE RISE, AGAIN
Seda Grigoryan
hetq
12:37, August 2, 2011
Aram, a 28 year-old graduate of the Komitas National Conservatory in
Yerevan, moved to Paris in 2004.
He says he relocated to continue his musical education. Aram later
confessed that the education story was just a ruse. He simply wanted
to get out of Armenia.
"I had two major reasons. First, there was the work issue. Even a top
graduate from the Conservatory would find it impossible to get a job
in any of the orchestras in Armenia. All the spots are taken. The
second issue was that I was facing military service. Had I stayed,
I wouldn't have been able to play music for two years. I might have
gotten frustrated and left music all together."
In the ensuing years, Aram has received a number of diplomas. But he's
still considered a student and this allows him to stay in France. He
has a residency card. To make some extra money, Aram plays in some
groups and gives private lessons.
He makes enough to get by and even send some back to his parents
in Armenia.
Aram is preparing to apply for French citizenship.
But unlike Aram, most Armenians arriving here aren't legal residents.
Many are obliged to return to Armenia.
It's not uncommon to read about Armenian families forced to live
"rough" on the streets of Paris.
Recently the French paper La Depeche wrote about an Armenian family
with four kids that were found sleeping on the streets.
Last March, an Armenian named Misha Shaveshyan, launched a hunger
strike since French authorities were planning to deport him, his wife
and two children. Their asylum request had been denied.
In 2009, 3,603 individuals from the RA applied for asylum in France.
This was the largest number of Armenian asylum seekers ever. Armenia
came in 3rd place after Kosovo and Sri Lanka.
In November of 2009, France decided to register Armenia (as well as
Turkey) in its official list of "safe countries"
Of course, the French government took this decision not because it
was convinced that Armenia was on the road of stability and democratic
reform. There were more practical considerations at play.
But local civic groups working with migrants pressured the French
government to review its decision. As a result, Armenia and Turkey
were removed from the list in July of 2010.
During those 8 months, the number of asylum seekers sharply dropped
off - 44% to be exact.
The number of Armenians seeking asylum in France sharply rose again
after Armenia was no longer considered a "safe country".
Many asylum seekers claim they are persecuted in Armenia since they
belong to the political opposition and took part in the March 1st
events. A tiny percentage claims they are members of ethnic minorities
and thus the target for discrimination in Armenia.
Seda Grigoryan
hetq
12:37, August 2, 2011
Aram, a 28 year-old graduate of the Komitas National Conservatory in
Yerevan, moved to Paris in 2004.
He says he relocated to continue his musical education. Aram later
confessed that the education story was just a ruse. He simply wanted
to get out of Armenia.
"I had two major reasons. First, there was the work issue. Even a top
graduate from the Conservatory would find it impossible to get a job
in any of the orchestras in Armenia. All the spots are taken. The
second issue was that I was facing military service. Had I stayed,
I wouldn't have been able to play music for two years. I might have
gotten frustrated and left music all together."
In the ensuing years, Aram has received a number of diplomas. But he's
still considered a student and this allows him to stay in France. He
has a residency card. To make some extra money, Aram plays in some
groups and gives private lessons.
He makes enough to get by and even send some back to his parents
in Armenia.
Aram is preparing to apply for French citizenship.
But unlike Aram, most Armenians arriving here aren't legal residents.
Many are obliged to return to Armenia.
It's not uncommon to read about Armenian families forced to live
"rough" on the streets of Paris.
Recently the French paper La Depeche wrote about an Armenian family
with four kids that were found sleeping on the streets.
Last March, an Armenian named Misha Shaveshyan, launched a hunger
strike since French authorities were planning to deport him, his wife
and two children. Their asylum request had been denied.
In 2009, 3,603 individuals from the RA applied for asylum in France.
This was the largest number of Armenian asylum seekers ever. Armenia
came in 3rd place after Kosovo and Sri Lanka.
In November of 2009, France decided to register Armenia (as well as
Turkey) in its official list of "safe countries"
Of course, the French government took this decision not because it
was convinced that Armenia was on the road of stability and democratic
reform. There were more practical considerations at play.
But local civic groups working with migrants pressured the French
government to review its decision. As a result, Armenia and Turkey
were removed from the list in July of 2010.
During those 8 months, the number of asylum seekers sharply dropped
off - 44% to be exact.
The number of Armenians seeking asylum in France sharply rose again
after Armenia was no longer considered a "safe country".
Many asylum seekers claim they are persecuted in Armenia since they
belong to the political opposition and took part in the March 1st
events. A tiny percentage claims they are members of ethnic minorities
and thus the target for discrimination in Armenia.