What prompted a rally outside the Questura di Napoli? And what stopped us “keeping our word”
Congress#Main events
What prompted a rally outside the Questura di Napoli? And what stopped us “keeping our word”
Lara Levchun, President of the Coordination Centre of Ukrainian Associations COORDINAMENTO UNITARIO, explains: “On 26.01.24, together with Sindaco Labor, we wrote a letter of appeal to the Questura di Napoli (Naples police headquarters). In the letter we expressed our indignation: since June there had been no reply, and not a single appointment (appuntamento) had been scheduled for people who had applied for their first permesso di soggiorno – protezione internazionale (residence permit for international protection).”
To respond to the situation, a demonstration outside the Questura di Napoli was planned for 15 February.
The aim of the event was to make it clear that Ukrainians want to live by the letter of the law, work legally and pay taxes.
To discuss this long-simmering issue, a round-table meeting with the head of the Immigration Office (Dirigente dell’Ufficio Immigrazione) of the Questura di Napoli was scheduled for 07.02.24.
Lara Levchun, President of the Coordination Centre of Ukrainian Associations COORDINAMENTO UNITARIO, together with Sindaco Labor, stressed: “…we must resolve the situation once and for all and receive proposals and concrete action from you.” They pressed the point, placing particular emphasis on Ukrainians who have found themselves in difficult circumstances, and explained that people cannot live “outside the law”, cannot live off the books. They cannot work legally, they are denied access to healthcare, they cannot study at state institutions or sign a tenancy agreement and, most painful of all today, they cannot return home.
The meeting ended with the decision to call off the demonstration planned for 15 February 2024.
For his part, the head of the Immigration Office promised to take the situation of Ukrainians into account in future. The Questura also admitted its fault and apologised to everyone affected, upset or inconvenienced by the situation. It promised to do everything possible to prevent such misunderstandings from recurring and gave assurances that, from now on, applications for the permesso di soggiorno – protezione internazionale would be given priority.
On the same day, ten Ukrainian citizens were also given an appuntamento to process their permesso di soggiorno – protezione internazionale. Five more were given an appuntamento on 14.02.24.
For our part, we would add that in future, whenever problems arise, we must give them more attention. Otherwise it is impossible to resolve them and improve the situation.
