PH Embassy in Moscow Visits Pinays in Detention Center, Meets with Officials

Philippine Embassy in Moscow Assistance-to-Nationals Officer Ray Parojinog (in black coat) with the three Filipinos at the Temporary Detention Centers for Foreign Nationals. (Moscow PE photo)

MOSCOW 17 December 2019 — The Philippine Embassy in Moscow officials visited the latest group of Filipinos under detention for violating Russia’s migration laws on 10 December 2019 as well as met with the officials of the detention center to ensure the safety and welfare of the detained Filipinos. 

There are currently three Filipinos at the Temporary Detention Centers for Foreign Nationals.  Visits are regulated by detention authorities and there is a formal process for requests.

The Embassy officials who visited the detention center were Assistance to Nationals Officer Ray Parohinog and Embassy Interpreter Aigul Iliasova.  During an earlier visit to the detention center, Detention Center Head Lagoda Alexey Viktorovich, praised the Embassy for looking after the welfare of Filipino nationals on a regular basis.  “You are the only Embassy that does this,” he told Philippine Consul General to Moscow Robert O. Ferrer.

The Filipinos, as well as the other foreign nationals in the detention center, are living in humane conditions and have access to basic necessities including medical care.  The Embassy is working on some the Filipino detainees’ medical issues, particularly relating to their prescription medicine. 

“Their main concern now is to go home. We are working on getting Philippine Government funding for their repatriation and hopefully this will be processed and the funds made available soon,” Consul General Bob Ferrer said.

For those apprehended by Russian authorities, the Embassy reiterated its advice that Filipinos should cooperate and obey the lawful orders of the authorities, not pay any bribes, and ask to call the Philippine Embassy at its emergency number (+7 906 738 2538).  END

For more information, visit https://www.moscowpe.dfa.gov.ph, or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinRussia/ or https://twitter.com/phlinrussia.