Refugees or opportunists? Dilemma with pregnant Russians in Argentina

Maria Konovalova found out that she would become a mother in August last year. She then lived in St. Petersburg, taught children English and was satisfied with her life. His intention was to continue pregnancy V Russiabut the “partial mobilization” announced by the government changed their plans, and Argentina crossed their path.

“It was a terrible moment because my husband left for work in the morning and I didn’t know if I could see him at night. The police stopped people on the street and drove them away, so we realized that it was difficult to live there longer,” the 25-year-old girl said in a conversation with the EFE news agency in Buenos Aires.

Konovalova is one of more than 10,000 Russian citizens who have visited Argentina since the beginning of last year; this flow is viewed with suspicion by the immigration authorities, who interpret these movements as an illegal method of obtaining Argentine citizenship and as business for the international “mafia”.

airport odyssey

After a 26-hour flight from St. Petersburg, Konovalova landed at Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires on February 9. At that moment, she did not suspect that she would spend another 24 hours in the waiting room, like five other Russians, with whom she had only one thing in common: to be pregnant.

“It seemed strange to the migration agents that I was traveling alone, as if I wanted to leave my child here and go again, a story about the mafia or something like that (…). After waiting six hours, they gave us a piece of paper with which Nas They didn’t let me in, she says.

The official version claims that these women were “false tourists” who traveled for the sole purpose of having their children, registering them as Argentines and leaving the country; what the National Directorate of Migration believes involves the “denaturization” of an agreement allowing Russians to stay up to 90 days without a visa in Argentina.

In this regard, Konovalova and two others Russian citizens They contacted Cristian Rubilar, a lawyer specializing in Argentine citizenship, who filed a habeas corpus petition to secure their release and subsequent entry into Argentina.

“What has been achieved with habeas corpus is that pregnant women can no longer be arrested and that international humanitarian law reasons are resolved,” Rubilar explains.

rising birth rate

The arrest of these women indicated an increase in the arrival of Russian citizens in Argentina as a consequence of the war: in January this year alone, a total of 4,523 Russians arrived in the South American country, which contrasts with 1,037 who arrived in the same month of 2022, according to official figures.

Many of them are women at 33 or 34 weeks pregnant. pregnancy who tend to give birth in Buenos Aires hospitals such as the German Hospital, one of the “preferred” medical centers for Slavic visitors.

“Last year we had about 30 children. Russian patientsWhat’s happening is that there are more of them this year. It is estimated that the number of women who will come here to start their families will be more than double that,” says Matthias Uranga, head of obstetrics at the German Hospital.

These women fly to the South American country, attracted by the “excellent” quality of medical services, Uranga says, noting the “concern” present in most of them.

“Many women decide to leave their families in other countries so that their husbands can avoid war, so they come with a disturbing psychological problem. Not only because of the war, but also because they leave their country, pregnant and go to another with another. a language completely different from what you have a child… It’s quite difficult,” she says.

come to stay

After the initial shock at Eseize, Maria Konovalova’s experience in Argentina It couldn’t be nicer, not only because of the “kindness” and “closeness” of its inhabitants – “I won’t leave here even after seven years,” he emphasizes, “but also because of the opportunity to live in a freer environment than Russia Vladimir Putin.

“I don’t want to think about what’s going on there because it’s sad, very sad. I want my country to be free and not have such a president as it is now, I want the war to stop, I want a better life. for the Russians. But now I have something to think about, ”says Konovalova, gently hugging her tummy.

After months of uncertainty, his story will at least have a happy ending. Your partner managed to get into Argentina and together they can raise Alexard, who will be born at the end of May. (EFE)