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Methodology

Human Rights Watch’s research at the eastern rim of the enlarged European Union was conducted over a six-week period between March 21 and May 7, 2005, in Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland. We focused on facilities where immigration detainees, including asylum seekers, were held. Human Rights Watch interviewed more than one hundred and fifty migrants and asylum seekers in detention centers in all four countries, and dozens of migrants and asylum seekers who had previously been held in detention.

In addition to interviewing migrants and asylum seekers, Human Rights Watch researchers interviewed recognized refugees in Ukraine, Slovakia, and Poland; migrant community leaders; social workers; representatives of local human rights, humanitarian, and refugee NGOs; and lawyers. In all four countries, Human Rights Watch researchers spoke with government officials responsible for migration and asylum procedures; border guard officials—both in the headquarters and in detention facilities and at border crossing points; police and officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in each country; and representatives of the Ukrainian Ombudsman’s Office. Human Rights Watch also met with representatives of the Delegation of the European Commission in Kyiv; the Embassy of the United States in Kyiv; the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Kyiv; and UNHCR in all four countries visited.

Some migrants and asylum seekers expressed fears of reprisal for speaking with us, which caused some to decline an interview with Human Rights Watch. In Slovakia and Poland, many of the detainees told Human Rights Watch that they did not want to speak about their experiences in Ukraine because they were afraid that if they did, they would be sent back. Despite these fears, many migrants and asylum seekers did choose to tell us their stories and that first-hand testimony is reflected throughout the pages of this report. The names of all migrants and asylum seekers interviewed for this report have been disguised, through the use of pseudonyms or assigned initials. Where interviewees chose their own pseudonyms, quotation marks are used around the name. Other pseudonyms and initials were assigned by Human Rights Watch.