Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said an improvement of the situation in Ukraine was not foreseeable in the near future and attacks by Russian forces, targeting infrastructure, including energy supplies, were still to be expected throughout the country.
“The Ukrainian civilian population is suffering from the ongoing Russian attacks,” Keller-Sutter said at a news conference on Wednesday. “The people are facing a cold winter.”
For the protected status S to be lifted again, a sustainable normalisation of the situation is needed, Keller-Sutter continued. A safe return for the refugees is therefore not possible.
In line with the EU
The so-called S protection status will therefore not be lifted before 4 March 2024, unless the situation changes fundamentally by then. In this way, the government wants to clarify the situation for those seeking protection, as well as the cantonal authorities, municipalities and employers.
Last month, the European Union indicated that, against the backdrop of the current situation in Ukraine, it also expected temporary protection to be extended until spring 2024.
“There’s a war on European territory,” said Keller-Sutter. “That is why a joint approach makes sense.”
So far, around 68,000 people have been granted special refugee status in Switzerland. Persons who are granted protection status S may travel abroad and return to Switzerland without a travel permit. They may also engage in gainful employment (including self-employment) without having to wait a certain period to do so, according to the State Secretariat for Migration.
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
How is your country dealing with the return of stolen artifacts?
Western nations like Switzerland often have to deal with the process of recovering or returning looted artifacts which have been illegally imported. What’s the situation like in your country?
Justice minister seeks to clarify legal status for Ukrainian refugees
This content was published on
Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter says there is no need to extend the special legal status for Ukrainian refugees in Switzerland.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.