Lawyers from the Human Rights Centre are assisting a Ukrainian IT specialist who submitted an application to the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) in 2024 for permanent residence in Estonia. The Tallinn Administrative Court found that the PPA's decision to leave the application unprocessed was unlawful.
Taras has been living and working in Tallinn with his family on a temporary residence permit since 2021. He has three young children. According to Ukrainian law, he is exempt from military service because he has three minor children.
When the PPA decided to leave Taras's residence permit application unprocessed, citing the absence of a military summons, Taras turned to the Human Rights Centre. Lawyers Nora Kurik and Uljana Ponomarjova helped him appeal the decision.
Nora Kurik stated that Taras's case is not unique. Many Ukrainians who have arrived in Estonia are in similar situations. The PPA is demanding documents from them that they are unable to provide while staying in Estonia.
The decision of the Tallinn Administrative Court can be appealed to the Tallinn Circuit Court within 30 days. If the PPA does not dispute the court's decision, it will come into force on September 29.
More information about Taras's legal case can be found in the series "Pealtnägija".