Emigration minister inquires after Egyptian students in Russia, Ukraine

Minister of Emigration and Expatriates Affairs Soha Gendy held a meeting via video-conference with around 69 Egyptian students in Ukraine and Russia to check on their conditions amid the repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.

The virtual meeting was also attended by Assistant Minister of Emigration for Communities Affairs Amr Abbas, Egyptian Ambassador to Ukraine Ayman El Gammal, Egyptian Ambassador to Russia Nazih El Nagary, Egyptian Cultural Attaché in Russia Mohamed El-Sergany, and representatives of the Egyptian community and the Ministry of Emigration Dialogue Center for Egyptians Studying Abroad (MEDCE), according to a statement released on Sunday.

The minister said the aim of this meeting is to inquire after Egyptian students in Ukraine and Russia and make sure that they stay in safe places, the statement added.

She added her ministry fully coordinates with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Higher Education with regard to following up the conditions of Egyptian students in Russia and Ukraine based on the updates on the ground in the two European countries.

Gendy noted her ministry and the Higher Education Ministry coordinate their efforts to bring back Egyptian students in the two countries and facilitate all measures to complete their studies in Egyptian universities.

On his part, the Egyptian ambassador to Russia said the situation in Russia is stable, with the exception of the Russian city of Belgorod, adding that students in the city were addressed to submit applications in case they wish to be transferred from their universities in Belgorod to universities in other Russian cities.

He noted that the Egyptian Embassy in Russia have already received applications from 200 students asking to complete their studies in universities in other Russian cities.

He stated there are some Egyptian students who prefer to return to Egypt, while others prefer to complete their studies in Russian universities, in hope for stability in the situation.

On his part, the Egyptian ambassador in Kiev said the situation in Ukraine is totally unstable and therefore the Foreign Ministry was notified to issue a notice to Egyptian nationals in Ukraine to leave the country as soon as possible.

Regarding Egyptian students in Ukraine, the ambassador explained that Ukrainian universities were addressed the collect all data of Egyptian students and communicate with them, pointing out that the Ukrainian authorities have signed agreements with a number of European universities to transfer Ukrainian and foreign students from Ukrainian universities.

Ambassador Ayman El Gammal stated that Egyptian students in Ukraine have to decide either to be transferred from Ukrainian universities to any of European universities or to complete their studies in Egypt.