The Foundation For The Defense Of The Citizens Against State Abuses (FACIAS) intervenes in support of Romanian citizens in the Middle East conflict zone, to defend their rights.
FACIAS's action comes in response to the many complaints received, but also to the dissatisfaction expressed in the public space, in which Romanians in the region complain about the lack of reaction or insufficient support from the Romanian state faced with major security risks.
FACIAS has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to communicate how many Romanian citizens have so far sought the support of the ministry and consular offices in the region and how many have actually benefited from consular protection measures such as evacuation, repatriation, transportation, temporary accommodation or emergency assistance.
FACIAS has also requested the corresponding active operational plan for the management of evacuations and repatriations and the measures it provides for.
According to Law no. 62/2019 on consular activity, the State, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Romania's consular offices, is obliged to provide protection to Romanian citizens in the event of armed conflict. This protection includes evacuation and repatriation, provision of transportation and temporary accommodation, as well as the provision of basic necessities, including medicines and emergency medical care.
Returning Romanian citizens to their country at their own expense does not mean evacuation. Although 14 days have passed since the beginning of the emergency situation in the Middle East region, there is still no public information on the exact number and timing of the flights provided by the Romanian state, how many citizens have requested evacuation, how many of them are still waiting and when the repatriation process of all Romanian citizens will be finalized.
The Romanian state had an obligation to provide adequate aircraft and logistical arrangements for the repatriation of all Romanians in risk areas as soon as possible.
According to the same law, responsibility for the organization and functioning of consular activity lies directly with the head of the diplomatic mission, the coordinator of the consular section and the head of the consular office, who are responsible for the way consular services and interventions are managed in emergency situations.
FACIAS lawyers are analyzing, from a legal point of view, the Ministry's actions and will initiate the necessary legal steps against the institutions and persons responsible for any abuse against Romanian citizens.