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Chechen Refugees Accuse United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Forging their Names

February 21, 2008

 Eka Kevanishvili, Tbilisi

The Chechen refugees that live in Pankisi Gorge are of the opinion that United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has on several occasions intentionally forged their names. Adam Makalov, applicant to UNHCR for resettlement to a third country considers that the international organization had deliberately misspelled his name on important refugee documents.

Adam Makalov received a denial to his application from the UN High Commission, but the refusal was addressed to Aldan Makalov and not Adam Makalov. This mistake raised Makalov’s suspect and he decided to visit the UNHCR Representation in Tbilisi

“UNHCR my application for resettlement and the notice was addressed to other person. My name is Adam Makalov and not Aldan Makalov. Consequently he refused to sign the document of refusal. I have been living in Georgia for years and have not been able to establish myself in Georgia. I can hardly support my family. The resettlement would be a great relief. Now, however, it seems to be out of the question. All roads are closed to me and now they are only trying to laugh at me. For others it might be insignificant, not a big deal, as the name was mistyped but I suspect that it was not a simple mistake.

 I think Aldan Makalov really exists and they asked me to sign in stead of him. So I came to Tbilisi to There has been human resource changes in the UN High Commission. However, when addressed with my issues, they only look one another. None of them want to meet us and discuss the issue. They claim to be working for us but I don’t think that means that they care for us or our problems.  I wrote the claim and demanded to find out if there was a refugee by the name of Aldan Makalov and if he really existed.  After a large argument my claim was accepted. It was as if they had wanted me to sign a fake document and not to ask any questions. I assume they only thought that we must be some kind of idiots. It is as if we can not read and do not understand anything. We have been struggling to survive and probably they think we are tired of it and will sign anything. However, but they are terribly mistaken.

It is not only me that takes exception, there are other refugees who received refusal under other names,” said Adam Makalov.

Makalov was accompanied by Aslam Bek Umarov. The notice of received was provided under the name of Aslan Bek Umarov.

Makalov said that he would bring a suit under such circumstances.  He claims that UNHCR has its favorites among refugees and such refugees easily receive approval for resettlement. Makalov called them “the agents of UNHCR”.

UNHCR Tbilisi office states that the names of Makalov and several Chechen refugees were typed incorrectly and this was by mistake. In Akhmeta the problem was explained to the refugees as having been but a mechanic mistake. The Commission apologized and promised that it would send another documents with the corrected names.

UNHCR claims that they can help refugees in resettlement in special cases, in particular when the government was unable to integrate them into the society. UNHCR states that it can only help Makalov and other in his situation if they would submit new facts in support of resettlement. The organization is ready to accept applications from other qualified refugees as well.  

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