G. O.

Born - in Leninobad, Tadjikistan.

1. Basically, I have spent my whole life in Tadjikistan, but has finished the school at Ukraine, in 1975, then - married there, and came back (1977) to Tadjikistan.

2. (1) In 1991 - 1992 the unrests have began in Tadjikistan, in connection with the disintegration of the Soviet Union; political conditions have become unstable - and the civil war has errupted between Muslim fundamentalists - and the moderate Muslim movement.

2) My husband, a lieutenant colonel, was occupying a senior position in the Ministry of Interior (Internal) Affairs: he was the chief of the Department on Mobilization in the Management of the Interior (Internal) Affairs of the Lininobad region. He was initiated into the important state secrets, and by the nature of his work cooperated with KGB - and also knew the important details of the Muslim extremists' activity in Tadjikistan. Therefore, being Russian, he [automatically] was a threat for the newly forming Tadjik national political elite. I worked in the Interior (Internal) Affairs' system myself, and, keeping friendly connections with my ex-co-workers, (also from my husband) learned that the policy of authorities of Tadjikistan has quickly oriented to remove all Russian staff from the Interior (Internal) Affairs' system.

3) Threats - addressed to my husband - started to arrive since 1990. Criminals, condemned earlier due to his operative work, who have begun to be released from prisons, threatened to kill him. Being afraid, that the threat to his life will be extended to whole his family (us), he has decided that it will be better to divorce formally - and live some time separately. We have carried out the first part of the procedure of divorce, but have not finished it up to the end, and continued to be considered under the law as family. We would be considered "finally (conclusively) divorced", if paid the expedient court fee - and would receive the second part of the court decision: the certificate on divorce.

4) The Tadjik authorities were afraid, that, dismissed from the (Ministry's of) Interior (Internal) Affairs system, from KGB and army Russian staff could form a dangerous (to them) opposition - and persisted that all such people should leave the country.

5) Once we had visitors at home - who warned us, that if my husband will not retire from work voluntary and will not leave Tadjikistan, he and his family can once merely "disappear". Another time we have been surrounded [by armed men] near our home - and, under the point of a weapon, have been told the same.

6) After these incidents we have left our apartment and were hiding by relatives for some time. At this time children did not go to school, and we practically did not leave our refuge. Beside a personal threat to us, there were unrests and massacres in the streets.

7) While we were hiding, friends of my husband have drawn up [were preparing] our papers [documents] to help us leave Tadjikistan. They have taken away all our present documents - and explained that will return them to us, when will issue everything (as I understand - the foreign passports), necessary for departure abroad: [making it possible] with our actual documents' help.

8) In the hectic haste of the preparation for departure I did not know (all these affairs were my husband's businesses), that in the certain moment not my original certificate of birth, but another one, repeated, was returned, where in the column "mother's nationality" - "Jew" stood.

3. (1) In the beginning of November 1994, my husband has left for Moscow (I think, on board of a military plane), with all our documents. However, internal passports have remained with us. In the beginning of February we've left for Moscow, too. From Moscow my husband has requested a certificate that we were refugees. This certificate which was issued by the Department of the Refugees' Affairs of the Regional Executive Committee of the Leninodad area (region), has arrived in Moscow, when we already left, and later was delivered to us in Israel.

2) In Moscow we found out, that during the stay there my husband was engaged in registration [issuing, obtaining] of the "entrance [immigration] visas" for the permanent residency in Israel. By that moment I did not know yet, that the [so-called] Law on Return exists in the State of Israel, according to which only a person of Jewish nationality or a member of his family can immigrate to Israel.

3) My husband thought that staying even in Moscow and on the former Soviet Union's territory in general must be dangerous (to us) - and that only a departure to another country removes a threat to our life and safety. I did not have any reason not to trust him. Besides, when we were in Moscow, he talked on the phone to a friend in Tadjikistan, who warned that a search of us continues, and that among threats in our address a phrase that we "will be "caught" even if in Moscow, or in St. Petersburg", has sounded.

(In connection with all [these] events I was in such suppressed condition [mood, psychological state] that could hardly realize, what occurred around [me]. I can not recollect, whether or not I used to come personally to Israeli consulate in Moscow and signed any documents there. I remember only, that some formal procedures took place in Moscow, but I do not remember whether it was at the airport, in Sochnut, in Moscow's organizations, or in the embassy of Israel.)

4. (1) On February 14, 1994 we arrived to Israel and have resided in Ashdod. Arriving in Israel I've found out that here I has been considered as a Jew (with that - if knowing it before, - I would categorically disagree). I am Christian, my children are baptized, [they are] Christians. It appeared that now there was no opportunity to "rewrite" [change] the nationality in Israel. Israel is such a state, where only people of one nationality - Jewish - or members of their families have rights to live, and even the Jews [if they became] Christians have no rights to immigrate to Israel. As there was no place for us where to go from Israel, I was compelled to leave everything, as it was. However, on this ground we constantly had conflicts with my husband, as I regularly reproached him that he "has made" me Jewish without my consent: as he knew about conditions of receiving of the Israeli immigration visa.

5) Gradually life in Israel became intolerable. I was compelled to go to Synagogue, to pretend, that I observe "kashrut"; [I] had no rights to attend the church (besides - in general - there is no church in Ashdod) [or/and] observe Christian customs, and raise my children accordingly with the Christian tradition. Sometimes, hiding from anybody, I went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchrein in Jerusalem. This double life was psychologically, morally unbearable. I became nervous, irritated, was under constant fear to do something not correctly. My husband has begun to drink.

6) Approximately in 4-5 months after our arrival [to Israel] conflicts with my husband have got a menacing character. That, that in the internal passport of my husband (in "teudat-zehut" [later in the text - T.-Z.], which some people incorrectly name as the identification card), in the column "nationality", was written "nationality wasn't define", made him mad and poisoned his life. At work he was humiliated because he was "without nationality", was offended verbally, underpaid (was not paid "night", as well as vacation money (supplements), was given poor-quality materials, with which he could not work, was refused a mask (he worked as a welder), forced to carry out works in such places and in such conditions that it was equivalently to a torture - and have damaged his health. Working without a mask, in a bending position, in pipes, where he could not avoid breathing in the gases from electric welding, burning his eyes because of the absence of a mask, he knew that he is given such a work, which the Jews do not carry out.

7) His indignation [despair] and stresses broke out in family, when he was coming home from work. Hard drinking, beatings (he was beating me), - all this constantly amplified. Sometimes he grabbed a knife and chased me all along the apartment, so, that I was forced to go outside, and remain there, until he will not fall asleep.

8) My daughter, N., was constantly offended and humiliated by children (aboriginal Israelis) living in our house. They cried out "all Russians are prostitutes" ("kol ha-rusiyot - zonot"), "go back to "Rusia". They constantly called us through Intercom, and offended me and my daughter. I have gone to neighbors to investigate, what's going on, and ask them to influence (stop) their children. But the parents have declared that we invented [made up] everything, and that by thus we've offended them and their children. They have threatened that next time they will turn [complain] to police [asking to punish us] for this slander.

9) I felt, that I was discriminated in employment - because I am Russian. First, I was not given a Hebrew course: all the time they told that the course is postponed. And then I was forced to search for work. Not having Hebrew - plus the common victimization (linked to my nationality), when I've attempted to employ myself, have resulted in staying without a job for a long time, and, when finally employed, - not in Ashdod, but in Tel Aviv, so that it was necessary to go far and come back home late at night. I could not stay with my husband any more, as he has become even more aggressive, and I was afraid for my life and life of my children.

10) Relations with my neighbors became more and more menacing, too: they offended us, advised [us] to "go back to Russia", did not let us to pass, and played small miscellaneous dirty tricks.

11) Taking my children with me, I have moved to town Yehud. Living there, I have continued to work in Tel-Aviv. There were constant conflicts at work. The attitude towards unprotected and deprived new Russian immigrants has resulted that my owner (assuming that all "Russian women" are "refuseless" [trouble-free], has began to stick to me with the sexual bids. He threatened to fire me from work and "promised" other troubles. Besides I was renting an apartment together with a nanny of his children. Rejecting his bids, I would loose not only work, but also the apartment. I was in such a depressed [psychological] state that I was forced to concede his bids. On way to work he has begun to beat me in the car. These beatings became systematic.

12) When we lived in the city of Yehud my daughter was raped. She had a boyfriend, an Israeli, a Moroccan origin. Once his cousin Haim, under pretext of a meeting with Moshe (her boyfriend), has taken her to his home. There he has raped her, and then declared, that all Russian are prostitutes - and that at police nobody will react to the complaints of "Russians". Immediately after raping her he has told his whole family (they have heard the cries) the following: "I've already told you, that all Russians - are prostitutes".

13) At the beginning my daughter was afraid to tell me about it, and when (in two weeks) has told, and we have addressed to police, there they have told us that, because we have not turned to police immediately, they will not do anything.

14) The police has informed Haim and Moshe's family about our complain, and they have started to call and threat us. We felt completely deprived and defenseless, powerless to undertake anything.

15) All this (persecution by my owner and the case with my daughter) has forced me to move to Ganei-Aviv (Lod), where the apartment was more expensive, and the place was much worse. Once at work, when I have got the sandwich, brought from home, the owner has threw over me, crying out that all Russian eat pork, and has struck me by a stick. Later he has left me alone for a while, but in more than two years has began to stick to me again. When I have announced him that I'll address the police, he has struck me: so strong, that I have received a serious trauma. For the promise not to turn to police he has given me his word not to fire me, but has not carried out his promise. And in July 2000, without paying me the due vacation [dismissal] money, he has fired me.

16) In the same period of time I was continuously called and persecuted by my husband, who (by threats and persistence) tried to force me to live with him again.

I had no other option but to start a divorce procedure to legalize my status and have more security from encroachments of my husband.

17) While for the social reasons I could not afford the divorce in Israel, I have recollected that we began a procedure of divorce in Tadjikistan, and that there was a court decision at the first stage of the legal procedure of divorce. When I have addressed to a Sochnut's representative for advise, and has mentioned about the divorce in Tadjikistan, which wasn't finished by then, he has advised me to give a way to this document, which, as he said, will solve my problem.

18) In reality, even after I have received the certificate on divorce, legalized everywhere (in the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of Tadjikistan, in consulate of Israel in Uzbekistan), the divorce was not recognized by the state of Israel. I continued to be considered as a married woman. In response to the repeated submission of my application (after a lawyer, hired by me, has addressed to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Israel) I was told to appear at the Ministry of Internal Affairs [bureau], and informed, that I should bring a description of my situation with me. I've appeared there with it, and also presented the decision of the Tadjik court from 1990 - and the certificate of cancellation of the marriage from 1995. The lawyer has warned me, that my husband will be deported from Israel because under the Israeli law he, ostensibly, has immigrated to Israel, while being divorced. Without my knowledge the lawyer called my husband (to his cellular phone), warning him about eventual deportation, which threats him.

19) After my husband has learned everything, he has visited my daughter, persuading her to convince me to stop the process of divorce. When she has refused, he has struck her, and has told "I shall kill both you, and your mother", and has left saying these words. When I have learned about it, I tried to contact him by the phone, but this number was already disconnected. Soon my husband has called me at home, and has declared that he has visited the Ministry of Internal Affairs - and has made there a declaration that neither I, nor my children are not Jews, and that he's ready to prove it, and on the basis of it we should be deported together with him.

20) I have addressed to police in Ashdod, but was told there that, as my husband's address is unknown, any measures will not be undertaken before I'll find his actual address. [Soon] in the Ministry of Internal Affairs I have received the data about his habitation registration (starting from some time there is a law in Israel about "habitation registration allowance" ["propiska" in Russian] - as in ex-USSR), but it appeared, that he does not live there anymore.

21) I thought that my husband only blackmails us, and actually did not reported us, but soon have received a letter from the Ministry of the Internal Affairs, [saying] that I must appear there with my mother's birth certificate, for confirmation of her nationality and continuation of the divorce procedure. I went there to explain that I do not have my mother's birth certificate, and then was told that I should bring other documents, besides the certificate of birth, which would confirm that I'm Jewish. Or I should go to the Rabbinate, where they can "confirm my nationality".

4. Nothing more remained [to me] but to depart without waiting for deportation. It is necessary to explain, why I believed, that other solutions didn't exist. First, psychologically I was unable to bear the procedure of deportation, all this shame, possible arrest and placement in the deportation prison, and a removal from Israel under an escort. Secondly, I sincerely believe that in Tadjikistan death is still threatening us. (Besides, being both Russian - and Israeli in a Muslim state like Tadjikistan is a life-threatening task in itself). Thirdly, I knew, that if I can not confirm that I am Jewish, the tehudat-zehut (T.-Z.) will be taken away from me. (And in Israel without the T.-Z. you are doomed (fated). Fourth: my husband continued to threat my daughter, and me, by murder. I saw that the police does not undertake any measures. In Israel I addressed with my complaints to many organizations - [like] WIZO, Histadrut, police, and others, - but nobody did anything to protect my rights. Fifth: shortly before our departure serious problems with my son have begun.

5. (1) In connection with what we experienced in Tadjikistan, becoming witnesses of war, disorder, beatings of the people, murders, and violence of [uncontrolled] crowd, - my children and me - we have received a deep psychological trauma. By going through such a strong shock, we became opponents of any violence. Me, my daughter and son - all of us are pacifists; this is our deep belief. Therefore my daughter, when to she was 18 years old, has refused to serve in Israeli army, and was nominated for an alternative military service. In Israel, they glancing askance at those, who has refused to serve in the army, and it became an additional source of discrimination of my daughter. It has become the reason of even more severe discrimination, to which my daughter was exposed.

2) In August 2, 2001 my son C. was called for Israeli army. He was subjected to routine checks and measures of distribution. With first appearance at the draft board he has declared that categorically refuses to serve in Israeli army, and has explained, that he is a pacifist, and against any violence. He was told that his declaration [application] would be accepted [filed] only after all checks, registration and distribution. He was told that these stages are pure formality and, besides, without passing them, his declaration about his unwillingness to serve in the army will not be given an official (legal) course. It was a deceptive trick. All procedures connected to preparation for the army service lasted approximately 3 months, till October 31. Each time, when he came to make an official application that he refuses to serve [in the army] (which had to be somehow filed and registered), he was told to wait; but nobody used to take care of his case up to the end of the day. At last, once, after he came to the draft board, he was forced to be seen by a doctor again, and by deceit all his clothes have been taken away. Therefore after the medical exam he had nothing to do but to put on the military uniform. But, when he said categorically that all the same - he's not going to serve in the army, only then the interview with an officer was issued. It has appeared that it was not an interview, but a court, during which the officer spoke with him extremely roughly, declaring that all Russians are liars and crooks, and that all of them sneaked into Israel by a fraud. He told my son - that does not trust my son's declaration about his pacifist belief: because all Russians are liars and violators of the laws. When my son tried to object, the officer has announced that my son now will be taken to a prison and that for each objection to the officer the prison term will be extended [increased]. Right there, my son was handcuffed and sent to a military prison. He has stayed in the military prison about one month. Feeling the authority and impunity the prison officers offended and carried psychological pressure on my son, leaving the [full (bright)] light in the [prison] cell during the night - to prevent [prisoners] from sleeping (torture by insomnia); some times he was punished by sweat-box (where remained in handcuffs, in а bent position for many hours) - for speaking Russian. Once, when my son unconsciously has started to talk Russian with others inmates again, an officer has struck him, and he fell by a side, breaking two ribs. For a week he stayed in bed, abortively asking for the army doctor - and then they let him out from prison, issuing the next court session. When he came home, we tried to visit our family doctor, but the doctor has announced, that - as the son now in the army, he does not belong any more to ''kupat-cholim" (medical cash cooperative), and should address only to an army doctor. Three hearings of the army court were held. During the first of them they told my son, that if he will continue to name himself a pacifist and refuse to service in the army, they will put him in the military prison again. We made a conclusion, that if he'll go to the prison again, this time he will be simply killed, and we have decided, that it is better to leave the country, for what was necessary to ask a delay from the compulsory military service. At the third hearing this delay was given to him.

6) We have decided to leave for a country, which situates as far away from Europe and Israel as possible: to make more difficult for our eventual persecutors to find us. I am one hundred percent sure that my husband will look for us, trying to find our refuge. For this reason we have departed for Canada not by a direct flight, but via London.

7) I ask to display human and objective vision of our situation, and to understand that we have no place to go and no place to come back. By the present time (we ask you not to approach this question formally) we do not have any genuine citizenship of any country of residence. In those countries, where we ever lived, presently we have neither a house, nor relatives, neither friends (lost all contacts), nor a true citizenship. Besides, there is an inevitable threat to our life, health, freedom, safety and mental integrity. Personally I, my children - we can not live by double life any more, and would prefer rather to kill ourselves, than to continue such a dual existence. I feel that if I would live by such life some more months, I would simply have become insane. From the first day of arrival to Montreal we feel that we are in habitual conditions, in cultural environment, accepted by our mentality. We have visited the church of St. Paul and Peter, which we intend to attend regularly, and we are happy that at least temporarily and as refugee claimants could be here, among related to us environments. We are happy, that we meet Christmas on Canadian soil - and for the first time after many years will celebrate it.