The Greek government said they will give special treatment to Greek-origin Ukrainian citizens of war-torn areas who want to resettle in the European Union.
According to a EUobserver report citing the Greek foreign ministry, about 90,000 Greek-origin citizens who live in the Mariupol region in Ukraine would be treated as “returnees” instead of refugees or asylum seekers.
“Greek Ukrainians (not possessing Greek citizenship) who would choose to resettle to Greece would get a special status – as was the case with people of Greek origin emigrating to Greece after the split-up of the former Soviet Union,” Anastasia Christofilopoulou, Press and Communication Attaché in Brussels told EUobserver.
“At that time, there were special provisions facilitating citizenship acquisition and granting of professional/social rights. In a similar case, similar measures would probably apply,” she said..
On August 16, Sartana, a majority-Greek village near Mariupol, was shelled by pro-Russia forces and three people were killed and 170 homes damaged. That was the fifth time the village was bombed and dozens of people have been killed so far.
The official number of Greek-origin people in Mariupol is 91,000, but the Federation of Greek Communities of Mariupol estimates that the real number is “much higher.” Christofilopoulou said that it is impossible for crisis-stricken Greece to accommodate all, but the Greek government expects an “exodus.” On Monday, 191 Greek-origin children and elderly people were flown from Kiev to the island of Rhodes, according to the report.
Some Greek communities in Ukraine date back to Byzantine times. But the majority settled there in the 18th century.
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