When the war in Ukraine broke out just over two years ago, Tanja was demented and already seriously ill.
Then daughter Lia Gromich saw to it that Tanja, 85 who lived alone in Russia, came to Sweden, where Lia lived for 30 years. Now the border police have announced that her mother cannot stay. According to Lia, several doctors have assessed that just the flight to Russia could have devastating consequences.
– She is very mentally unstable. She is demented and hallucinating. When a person with dementia is taken away from a safe environment, you don’t know how they will react. Secondly, she is bedridden and in a very bad general condition, says Lia.
“Want to take care of her”
Thanks to Lia herself working as a doctor, she has been able to provide for her mother during her time in Sweden. Now the daughter fears for her mother’s life.
– I think she will die. I don’t know how to do it technically, there are no trains or flights and the borders are closed. Even if they managed to deport her, I just think they would dump her in Moscow, she says and continues:
– It is terrible. It’s my mother and I remember her from when she was younger, all the good things she did for me. You don’t throw your parents out, but I want to take care of her.
Tanja has suffered strokes several times and is in need of regular medication. Lia says her mother has the mental capacity of a three-year-old and needs help with everything.
Taking his Tanja to Sweden was a last resort and intended as a short-term solution. Lia says that they applied for a temporary residence permit, but were rejected several times.
“Being thrown out to die”
The Swedish Migration Agency has spoken to P4 The valleyswho was the first to report this.
– The conditions for obtaining a residence permit due to particularly painful reasons have become very limited in the legislation, so sometimes we need to make decisions like this, says Anette Bäcklund, section manager at the Swedish Migration Agency.
Because Tanja lives as an undocumented person, she does not have access to medicines, care or assistance.
– Unfortunately, those are the consequences when you don’t follow the decisions made by the authorities. Then benefits and such things are withdrawn, says Anette Bäcklund.
Lia still lives on the hope of a residence permit for her mother. She has a scheduled meeting with the Swedish Migration Agency next week – but believes that the chance of the authorities changing their mind is small.
They have no family left in Russia anymore and Lia now feels powerless at the thought of soon not being able to do more for her mother.
– I have lived in Sweden and worked as a doctor all my adult life. I have taken care of my patients and now I know that my own mother will not receive care and will be thrown out to die. We cannot bury her or visit the grave. It doesn’t feel good at all.