The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Family ‘left in the dark’ over deportation
A fromFife family fear their 70-year-old grandmother could be taken them at any moment, after being “left in the dark” by the Home Office over her deportation.
Valentyna Yakovleva has called Tayport home for more than a decade, helping raise her grandchildren and living peacefully in the seaside village with her naturalised daughter and son-in-law.
Despite her age, health problems and lack of resources, the Home Office intends to send Mrs Yakovleva back to the north-eastern city of Kharkiv in Ukraine, close to the Russian border, where she has no family.
The Lib Dems have called for a stop to deportations as the coronavirus rages on, in the wake of Mrs Yakovleva’s ordeal.
Her son-in-law, Dr Andrij Sukhodub, said his family have resigned themselves to her being deported, and pleaded with authorities to at least let her have a coronavirus vaccine before she is taken away.
“The virus is completely out of control in Ukraine and any money she would be entitled to, like state pension, is lost,” he said.
“We have engaged in every step with the Home Office, they have been particularly blunt in their response.
“They have shown little understanding to our situation.
“They said because she was over the age of 18, she was not dependent.
“There is a great risk in sending her back to Kharkiv. It is entirely unlikely she will have access to her pension and if she did, it would not cover her bills.”
North East Fife MP Wendy Chamberlain has raised Mrs Yakovleva’s plight with the Home Office.
The Lib Dem has called for all deportations to be
stopped while the pandemic rages on, and questioned the priorities of the UK Government during this global health crisis.
She said: “I disagree with the Home Office decision to deport Valentyna and I think many will agree that deportations are the wrong priority for any government in the middle of a pandemic.”
Mrs Yakovleva was granted several visitor visas between 2001 and 2011 but her application for indefinite leave to remain on compassionate grounds was rejected in late 2011.
In September 2015, she was served with a notice stating she was a person liable for removal as an “overstayer” .
The Home Office was approached for comment.