Formal apology made to Boddam resident after being sent back to Ukraine just before Russian invasion
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The UK government has made a formal apology for instructing a Boddam resident to go to Ukraine days before the Russian invasion.
Natalya Fisher, who lives in the village with her husband Peter, was sent back to Ukraine by the Home Office to apply for a visa document just days before Russia began its war.
Mrs Fisher was in the country for two weeks during the Russian invasion. Mr Fisher travelled to Budapest to meet his wife to cut through red tape and travel back home to Scotland together.
MSP Karen Adam, who assisted the couple with the matter, wrote a scathing letter on March 2 to Home Office Secretary MP Priti Patel expressing “deep concern over the news that the UK government’s Home Office instructed my constituent, Natalya Fisher, to travel to Ukraine in order to apply for a visa just days before the Russian invasion of the country.”
Ms Adam continued in the letter to say that the UK’s immigration policy was “unfit for purpose” and “endangered lives.”
On April 28, seven weeks after Ms Adam had contacted the Home Office, the UK’s Minister for Safe and Legal Migration MP Kevin Foster responded to say: “I note Ms Fisher was advised she must return to Ukraine to submit an application.
"I am sorry officials advised her of this, taking into consideration the events which were unfolding at the time, this should not have been done as there was no need for her to do so.”
Commenting, Ms Adam said: “The most important thing is that both Natalya and Peter are back at home safely in Boddam.
“Natalya should never have been made to go back to Ukraine, particularly when the UK government knew of pending Russian invasion with the build up of Russian troops on the border.
“This ordeal has highlighted just how far removed Conservative politicians are from our values in Scotland.
"We are a welcoming country but we have an immigration policy that has been imposed on us from a UK government that does not match the character of our nation.”
