Russian activist in Bulgaria: "I am learning how to be free" | DW News

Key Concepts:

• Political asylum
• Refugee status
• Repressive measures
• Free speech
• Political opinion
• Danger in home country
• Bulgarian Refugee Agency
• Declined asylum applications
• Evidence of political persecution

Elisa's Journey and Asylum Application:

• Background: Elisa, originally from Rostov-on-Don, Russia, has been living in Sofia, Bulgaria, for the past three years.
• Motivations for Leaving Russia: Elisa decided to leave Russia after witnessing the crackdown on protests following Navalny's imprisonment and the buildup of Russian troops at the Ukrainian border in 2021. She felt it was impossible to change anything in Russia and perceived Putin as a "crazy tyrant."
• Travel Route: Elisa traveled from Russia to Poland, then to Montenegro and Armenia, before finally obtaining a visa for Bulgaria.
• Involvement with "For a Free Russia": In Bulgaria, she joined the organization "For a Free Russia," which assists Ukrainian refugees.
• Asylum Rejection: Elisa applied for asylum in Bulgaria, but her application was rejected. She emphasizes that she is not alone in this situation, highlighting that many anti-war Russians are facing similar difficulties.

Challenges Faced by Refugees in Bulgaria:

• Increasingly Difficult to Obtain Permits: Diana Ruslava from the organization "Voice in Bulgaria," which provides legal support to refugees, notes that it is becoming increasingly difficult for migrants to obtain any kind of permits in Bulgaria.
• Contradictory Decisions: Ruslava points out contradictions in the Bulgarian Refugee Agency's and the courts' decisions regarding asylum cases, particularly in Elisa's case, where there is "abundance of evidence for a political opinion that puts the person in complete danger."
• Examples of Rejected Asylum Applications: The video cites the case of an unaccompanied four-year-old and Saudi activist Abdul Rahman Al-Khaled, whose asylum applications were rejected despite evidence suggesting their safety would be at risk in their home countries. Al-Khaled has been detained for four years.
• Repressive Measures: Ruslava highlights the increasing implementation of "more and more repressive measures," including stricter border procedures and detention.

Bulgarian Refugee Agency's Response:

• Written Reply: The Bulgarian Refugee Agency provided a written reply to DW regarding Elisa's case, stating that "All the facts and circumstances on which the asylum seeker has based her refugee claim have been discussed and analyzed in detail."

Elisa's Determination:

• Refusal to Give Up: Despite the setbacks, Elisa refuses to give up and has submitted a new application for political asylum in Bulgaria.
• Desire for Freedom and Safety: Elisa states, "I want to stay because I want to be alive. I don't want to be in prison," emphasizing her desire for freedom and safety. She also expresses that she has started enjoying "the free speech that I can say what I think" in the past three years.

Notable Quotes:

• Elisa: "After this we had the last biggest protests which was punished the hardest. Now this was the moment and I understood that in this country it's already impossible to change anything."
• Elisa: "When I saw this I understood that uh he totally got crazy even more. Like before we thought that he just a tyrant and at this moment we understood that he also got crazy and crazy tyrant. It's the worst combination."
• Diana Ruslava: "The striking in this case is on first place the abundance of evidence for a political opinion that puts the person in complete danger uh in correspondence with all the facts that are notoriously uh famous about the situation in Russia."
• Elisa: "I want to stay because I want to be alive. I don't want to be in prison."

Technical Terms and Concepts:

• Political Asylum: Protection granted by a country to someone who has left their native country as a political refugee.
• Refugee Status: A legal status granted to people who have been forced to leave their country because of war, persecution, or natural disaster.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The video highlights the challenges faced by Russian dissidents seeking political asylum in Bulgaria, using Elisa's case as a central example. It reveals a trend of increasingly restrictive asylum policies and contradictory decisions by the Bulgarian Refugee Agency, despite evidence of political persecution in Russia. The video underscores the importance of free speech and the desire for safety and freedom among those fleeing oppressive regimes.