DSD doesn’t want to go to Russia (I don’t blame her)

[CatherineEarnshawsGhost]

Hello,

Just wanted to see what others think about this situation.

DSD (11) has three passports - A European one from her dad (not British, an EU), an Australian one and a Russian one. My DH’s exW is Russian and is planning a trip to visit family in the Urals during the Summer holidays. DSD’s mum is now in the process of renewing their Russian passports as I guess they have both lapsed.

I suppose it’ll be a bit of a rigmarole to get there as they’ll have to fly via Turkey to get to Moscow. When they do get there I think they’d have to rely on cash (Rubles) as western bank cards won’t work and their British phones will probably have to be switched off in advance because when the Russian phone company detects a UK phone number on their network they are likely to become highly suspicious and track that phone (I work in telecoms, this isn’t unfounded paranoia they can do this so probably will).

Now that DSD is aware of the plan she’s voicing the fact that she’s feeling a bit nervous at the prospect of going. Honestly I don’t blame her. DH is also quite worried and would rather they don’t risk it, but doesn’t want to stop his DD from seeing her GPs and GGM who is 89 (I think). Overall DH wants what’s best for his DD so that would probably mean not going to a hostile country which is currently at odds with the west. He’s just needs to diplomatically approach his exW for the best outcome (no idea how he does that so I’ll leave it to him).

AIBU for being a bit nervous about seeing DSD go off to Russia?

Anyone else experienced this (unlikely but just checking)

Thanks!

I understand your dp does not want your daughter to miss out on seeing elderly family members but I think in this unique situation he is going to have to say no and stop her from being taken out of the country. I know here in Ireland that we are advised not to visit Russia at the moment and it is suggested that Irish Citzens in Russia strongly consider leaving

She’s got Russian citizenship if she’s got a passport. I‘m not sure a UK court can prevent passport renewals for Russian passports.

Preventing her mum from taking her out of the country is a different thing.

I imagine your dh is very unhappy with the situation. If anything should go wrong or the situation deteriorate, he will find it very difficult to go and fetch her home. The FCO is advising all Brits to leave

Look at the FCO advice on travelling to Russia, it should help you make, and justify, your decision.

Oh I don’t know! That’s a scary thought . They might be quizzed on the way out and prevented from leaving… argh

Are you joking? Own citizens are not at risk???? where you’ve been all your life? In vacuum?

OP, of course it’s a bad idea, she will be treated as Russian citizen there so anything she might say/ indicate/ wave/ draw/ listen / sing/ smile not in the line of Russian government will be turned against her. Of course no one is saying that she will go to prison, not, a teen girl who has drawn a picture about the war has not gone to prison, she is just taken to a special place for orphans. The criminal investigation was started against her Dad.
Your SD is 11, she doesn’t want to go. The situation can change very quickly. The advice is against traveling to Russia exactly for this reason- no one can guarantee anything.

FCO isn't relevant if she's not a British citizen and neither are her parents? It wouldn't be the British consular they'd look to for help anyway.

Could the British courts prevent a child who isn't British being taken abroad?

I gave Russian friends who won't go to Russia currently, they arrange to meet family on neutral ground in Turkey. Is this possible?

If I was a grandparent in this situation, I’d be horrified about the idea of a visit to me being the reason to risk
the safety of my grandchild.

Are Russians allowed outward travel? Can the Russian side visit instead?

Oh someone above posted about Turkey!

can you facilitate the grandparents coming here for a visit?

@SinnerBoy

Does she speak Russian?

she does yes. She speaks three languages - English, her dad’s native language and the Russian. Her mum was born and raised in Moscow.

she’s been a lot to Russia so at least she knows the place and what to expect.

If she has Russian citizenship, doesn’t that mean no consul will help her if something goes wrong? Surely she will be treated as Russian in Russia.

FCO is relevant because it’s their advice against travel to Russia that the British courts will take in to account. Any child in the UK is under the jurisdiction of UK courts so yes they could rule to prevent her being taken.

I am not a lawyer, but having worked in this area I suspect if you husband wanted to take it that far, a court would be willing to order against her being taken, given FCO specifically advises against travel.

Sounds like there's a risk that she won't get back to the UK again.

If she doesn't want to go I think that that should be an end to the matter tbh.

Are they going to be able to get travel insurance given the current govt advice? Even if the British advice doesn't apply, I think most EU countries have the same position, Australia also has a do not travel warning, so there's really very little support available from one of her other nationalities if something does go wrong.

If the priority is seeing family members, can her grandparents travel to an intermediary country where they could meet, like Turkey or Serbia?

Not having a uk passport I would pay to get legal advice as to the possibility that she could get stuck there. It’s more than any of us can advice apart from “hell no don’t go”

What;s your DSD's immigration status?

I'd be concerned that she may get stuck there. Fortunately travel and entry/exit options are already very limited to Russia.

Although indirect entry is currently possible, this could change at anytime and she could find it more difficult or more expensive to leave.

Could the grandparents not visit instead?

I would be a bit nervous about my child going over right now.

.