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The Government is looking into issuing short-term visas to Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion who have family members in Jersey.
External Relations Minister Senator Ian Gorst said that the Government had been approached by Ukrainians living in Jersey to ask if their loved ones could come to the island while the situation was so dangerous and volatile.
Ukrainians have started to leave their country, many driving towards its western border with Poland.
“My officials have today been speaking with colleagues in the Immigration Department and Population Office, together with the UK, to investigate whether issuing a short-term visa would be possible,” he told Express.
“If it is, we will be working with organisations across the island, including a community task force which has already been established to help them when they arrive.”
Senator Gorst said that, according to Social Security and Immigration data, there were around 30 Ukrainians living in Jersey but he expected that “only a handful” of family members would likely come to the island.
Deputy Inna Gardiner, who has been liaising with Ukrainian nationals living in Jersey, said it was important that there is a quick turnaround for anyone requiring a visa, and wanted to see bureaucracy cut in response to the urgent situation.
"Making people wait for weeks or months for a visa makes no sense when it's an emergency," she told Express.
Senator Gorst, who also has responsibility for financial services, added extra sanctions were expected to be placed on Russian businesses and individuals by the UK later today.
We have Jersey residents from Ukraine and their families need help now, safe place - let’s create a task force to help! @GovJersey
— Inna Gardiner (@innagardiner) February 24, 2022
He added that, while businesses in Jersey did administer assets owned by Russian citizens, the island was not alone in this and activity was on a far smaller scale than other financial centres, such as London, Paris or Frankfurt.
He added that the island had no issue with participating in a public register of foreign property ownership in the UK nor a public register of beneficial ownership, which it had committed to create once the EU had implemented a review of its directives around anti money laundering.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham said that images coming from Ukraine were “deeply disturbing” and ministers and officials were closely monitoring developments.
“We want to do all we can to help Ukrainian nationals who are living in Jersey, so we have tasked a small group of officers to support them directly,” he said.
WATCH LIVE: An update to the @HouseOfCommons on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. https://t.co/Myfv8BzhIW
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 24, 2022
Pictured: The UK Prime Minister has been speaking in the House of Commons about the new sanctions that will be imposed.
“Officers have already been in touch with several families and any others who require advice or assistance can email externalrelations@gov.jewhere officers are waiting to respond with the relevant information.
“There is an existing immigration route to allow Ukrainian nationals who are immediate family members - spouses, children, dependent parents - of British nationals to come to Jersey.
He added: “We are fully alongside the UK in its condemnation of this aggressive action, and we will act promptly in line with the UK’s response. The UK is ultimately responsible for our foreign relations as a matter of international law, and we implement both UK and UN sanctions.
“Any new asset-freeze designations will take effect immediately, which means any related funds or economic resources held in Jersey must be frozen without notice and without delay. We will publish a notice on the Jersey Gazette with further details as soon as these become available.
“We also stand ready to swiftly implement any additional prohibitions which the UK government might announce later today.”
We want to do all we can to help Ukrainian nationals who are living in Jersey. Officers are in touch with several families & any others who require advice or assistance can email externalrelations@gov.je where officers are waiting to respond. pic.twitter.com/V1H7hGcZVc
— Government of Jersey (@GovJersey) February 24, 2022
Ukrainian nationals who are living in Jersey who require assistance are being advised to email externalrelations@gov.je.
Follow Express for updates...
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