Torsello, Davide - Pappová, Melinda: Social Networks in Movement. Time, interaction and interethnic spaces in Central Eastern Europe - Nostra Tempora 8. (Somorja-Dunaszerdahely, 2003)
Interaction, migration and change
216 Zdenëk Uherek - Katerina Plochová Re-settlers from Ukraine and some other CIS states We are using the term “re-settler” to indicate a specific group of immigrants from Ukraine (Zhitomir county), Byelorussia, Russia and Kazakhstan: families with at least one member of Czech origin or who have ancestors who came from the Czech Lands in the 19th century to Tsarist Russia or later. These people had decided to move permanently to the Czech Republic with their families and so asked the Czech government to assist their migration. Consequently, they were resettled with assistance from the Czech State and various Czech non-governmental organisations. Migrants from Zhitomir county and Byelorussia were known as “ecological migrants." They had asked the Czech government for help owing to high radioactivity levels in their regions of origin following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The Czech government assisted them by providing accommodation and work in the Czech Lands during 1991 - 1993 (more details in: Valášková, Uherek and Brouček 1997). After their resettlement, these migrants also received permanent residency permits. Today, many hold Czech citizenship. A group from Kazakhstan had also asked the Czech government for help. Because members of this group had perceived themselves to be politically and economically oppressed in the new Kazakh State, they wanted to move to the Czech Republic (more details in: Uherek, Valášková and Kužel 1999).6 With the assistance of a Czech NGO, “Man in Need,” this group migrated to the Czech Republic in the years between 1994 and 2001. Although these groups from Ukraine, Byelorussia, Russia and Kazakhstan number only about 3,000 people, they are significant because they offer a good example of a successful integration policy with governmental assistance. In a sense, these groups could be described as unproblematic. On the other hand, at the same time, the above-mentioned temporary labour migration from Ukraine has its drawbacks. Although it brings in a workforce, it also may encourage crime
