“Early today, with instructions from the Iraqi foreign minister, the Iraqi Embassy in Moscow began registering those people who want to return to Iraq,” Ahmed al-Sahaf told Rudaw.
He called on the Iraqis to submit their optional return requests, adding that those who have lost their passports will be issued temporary ones.
Thousands of migrants, mostly from the Middle East and Iraq in particular, have tried to cross into European Union nations from Belarus since early last summer. The EU has accused Belarus of orchestrating the influx of migrants to punish it for imposing sanctions against the country.
Sahaf said that nearly 600 Iraqis have requested Polish residency so far, adding that “the Iraqi government continues its diplomatic work with these countries in order to return these people and defend their rights.”
The return flights will be free of charge, according to the spokesperson.
When asked what steps his government has taken to prevent the further migration of Iraqis, Sahaf said they have suspended the work of Belarusian honorary embassy in Baghdad.
Since October 2020, the EU has imposed progressively restrictive measures against Minsk that were adopted in response to concerns over the 2020 presidential elections, and the intimidation and violent repression of peaceful protesters, opposition members, and journalists.
Belarus’ neighbours have fortified their borders against the migrants, leaving thousands desperate in a country they had thought would be an easy gateway to western Europe.
Mostly from Kurdistan
Dramatic footage of Kurdish migrants stuck on the borders of Poland and Belarus have circulated on social media, with some blaming the quality of life in the Kurdistan Region.
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) spokesperson Jotiar Adil told Rudaw on Thursday that out of nearly 17,000 migrants on Belarusian-Polish borders some 8,000 are from the Kurdistan Region.
Undersecretary of the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displaced, Karim Nuri, told Rudaw on Thursday that the people of Kurdistan make up 80 percent of all Iraqis on the borders of both countries. He said the figures continue to change.
“The number varies because some leave while others return. We do not have an exact number but it could be between 3,000 to 4,000. This number increases and decreases,” he said, adding that 80 percent are from the Kurdistan Region. There could be some Syrians there who have been identified as Iraqis.”
Nuri said that they will not allow the forcible return of Iraqis, but encourage the practice “by convincing them.”
He said they have provided free flights “but there are some who insist on remaining there until death. There are children and a humanitarian crisis.”
Erbil and Baghdad are in constant coordination on the issue of the migrants, he said.
Additional reporting by Jafar Mubasher
