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Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's response to a question by International Affairs magazine in connection with allegations on Russia's responsibility for the flow of refugees to European countries

7 July 2023 18:37
1346-07-07-2023

Question: What can you tell us about articles in some media outlets in unfriendly countries about Russia's alleged responsibility for the flow of refugees to the European countries?

Maria Zakharova: Indeed, a number of media outlets have started carrying such articles. In reality, the situation is quite different. We are seeing the continuing arrival of refugees from the Middle East and North Africa in Europe. According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), as of July 3 of this year, 94,000 people (as compared to 189,000 in 2022) have arrived in European countries in mixed migration flows. The majority of them (85,000) came via the Mediterranean.

A source of special concern is the remaining high figure for dead and missing migrants that tried to get to Europe by sea. In the first half of this year alone, over 2,000 such cases were recorded. Meanwhile, according to the IOM, about 2,400 people were listed as dead or missing in all of 2022.

We are convinced that migration flows in this direction have been triggered by the irresponsible and reckless interference of the Western countries in the domestic affairs of sovereign states with a view to destabilising them and replacing by force objectionable governments in the region. We believe the countries that were seriously involved in such interference and the unleashing of these conflicts should take primary responsibility for the consequences of this policy. High numbers of migrants and refugees is often one of them.

In our view, the eradication of the reasons compelling people to leave their homeland is the most effective way of resolving the migrant problem. We believe to achieve success in this respect, it is necessary to reach political settlement in the migrant exodus states and help them promote socio-economic progress, develop state-building and resources for counter-terrorism.

Russia believes the international community should intensify and coordinate its efforts to find political solutions to the persisting conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa. It is necessary to develop UN-led multilateral cooperation in this area with a view to resolving the problems related to the mass movement of large refugee and migrant groups.