Mira fled persecution in Ukraine in 2005 and settled in Leeds where she is an active member of the community and her local church, Christ Church, Upper Armley. Mira has suffered from severe mental health problems including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to her ordeal so far and was just starting to recover; we are greatly concerned that the inhumane treatment she is receiving, snatched, detained facing deportation, could cause these mental health problems to reoccur.

Mira feels her life will be in serious danger if she is removed to Ukraine. Mira experienced persecution in Ukraine following political activities during the Orange Revolution as a student, and opposed President Yushenko along with a group of other students. She was known to the President and is therefore at risk if returned. Since she has been in England she has been told that men have been to her family home looking for her, her sister has told her by telephone that she should stay away as she is in danger if she returns.

US: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Ukraine 2008
The police and penal systems continued to be sources of some of the most serious human rights concerns. They included instances of torture by law enforcement personnel, harsh conditions in prisons and detention facilities, and arbitrary and lengthy pretrial detention. The judiciary lacked independence and suffered from corruption. The government continued to be slow to return religious property. Societal violence against Jews continued to be a problem, as did anti Semitic publications, although their number and circulation declined during the year. Serious corruption persisted in all branches of the government. Societal problems included violence and discrimination against women, including domestic violence and sexual harassment in the workplace, and against children, as well as increased violence against persons of non Slavic appearance. Discrimination against Roma continued. Trafficking in persons continued to be a serious problem. Workers continued to face limitations on their ability to form and join unions of their choice and to bargain collectively.
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
 http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/eur/119110.htm


The Orange Revolution was a series of protests and political events that took place in Ukraine from late November 2004 to January 2005, in the immediate aftermath of the run-off vote of the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election which was claimed to be marred by massive corruption, voter intimidation and direct electoral fraud. Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, was the focal point of the movement with thousands of protesters demonstrating daily. Nationwide, the democratic revolution was highlighted by a series of acts of civil disobedience, sit-ins, and general strikes organized by the opposition movement.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Revolution
Friend of Mira in Leeds are fighting the removal and need your support!

There are 2 important things you can do to help:

1) Email/Fax Willie Walsh, Chief Executive Officer British Airways and urge him not to carry out the forced removal of Myroslava Murunyuk , a national of Ukraine. Please find model letter 'MyroslavaMuronyukBA.doc' attached. You can copy, amend or write your own version - if you do please include all the following details:  Myroslava Muronyuk a national of Ukraine and resident of Leeds due to be forcibly removed from the UK on British Airways flight BA0882, Friday 31st July @ 09:45 to Kiev, Ukraine.

Email:  willie.walsh@ba.com

Fax: 020 8759 4314 - from outside the UK + 44 20 8759 4314

Email: Jayne Atkinson, Government & Industry Affairs British Airways

 jayne.atkinson@ba.com


2) Email/Fax Rt. Hon Alan Johnson MP, Home Secretary and urge him to grant Myroslava Muronyuk protection in the UK , a national of Ukraine. Please find a model letter 'MyroslavaMuronyukAJ.doc' attached. You can copy, amend or write your own version - if you do please include all the following details:  Myroslava Muronyuk a national of Ukraine and resident of Leeds due to be forcibly removed from the UK on British Airways flight BA0882, Friday 31st July @ 09:45 to Kiev, Ukraine. Home Office Ref number: M1324307

Fax: 020 8760 3132 / + 44 20 8760 3132 (if you are faxing from outside UK)

Emails:  Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

 UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk

 CITTO@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk


Please let the campaign know of any E-mails/faxes sent:
Friends of Myroslava Muronyuk
C/o Hannah de Fenzi
 hannah.meetingpoint@live.co.uk

End of Bulletin:

Source for this Message:
Friends of Myroslava Muronyuk