In Switzerland, the conditions for access to the temporary protection status granted to Ukrainians since the start of the Russian invasion are tightening. The lower house of Parliament adopted on Monday, by 96 votes to 87, a text providing that S status will only be granted to Ukrainians coming from regions occupied by Russia or affected by the fighting. A similar vote took place earlier this year in the upper house.
The Swiss government, which opposed this text, established this temporary protection shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Refugees obtain it following a rapid procedure without going through a asylum procedure.
These modifications were necessary because “there is no longer any fighting in large parts of Ukraine”, assured the deputy of the Democratic Union of the Center (UDC, radical right), at the origin of the text, Pascal Schmid. According to him, the Swiss population has, since the start of the war, shown “great solidarity” with the Ukrainians who were fleeing their country, “but solidarity reaches its limits when the weight becomes too great, and the abuses are increasing.”
“No safe zone in Ukraine”
By the end of August, nearly 66,000 Ukrainians had obtained S status, according to Berne. The new restrictions will only affect new requests. The government has stated that this status will remain in force until stability returns to Ukraine.
During the parliamentary session devoted to the vote, Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans assured that there was “no safe zone in Ukraine”. “Even far from the front, Russian attacks with bombs, missiles and drones continue,” he continued. This vote, he warned, “only helps Russia… It undermines European solidarity and therefore plays into Russia’s hands.”