A Ukrainian refugee who had his visa cancelled for his political views is stuck in indefinite immigration detention in Melbourne even though he has not been convicted of a crime, as he cannot be deported due to the war in his homeland.
Yan Zakharin, 20, was among 15 members or associates of the now-disbanded National Socialist Network who were charged over an alleged clash with far-left extremists who were attacking attendees of a March for Australia rally in August last year. He has since pleaded not guilty to charges of affray, violent disorder, and discharge missile.
On December 24 Mr Zakharin was sent to the Melbourne Immigration Detention Centre in Broadmeadows, and although he signed an agreement to be deported he was then told by authorities he cannot be sent back to Ukraine because of the ongoing conflict with Russia.
This means Mr Zakharin will remain locked up without a visa regardless of whether he beats the charges against him, even though detainees accused of far more serious crimes have been released into the community on bail, including three accused of an $8 million Medicare fraud allegedly carried out from inside the facility.
Labor has also released hundreds of serious criminals, including murders, paedophiles and rapists, since a November 2023 High Court ruling that a Rohingya child rapist dubbed NZYQ could not be detained indefinitely, some of whom have gone on to allegedly commit horrendous crimes.
Mr Zakharin told Noticer News he had appealed the cancellation of his visa and made a new protection visa application, but believed he was being deliberately detained due to his ideology even though according to the law he should either be freed or sent back to Ukraine.
“Technically if they can’t send me back and hold me indefinitely I would have to be released into the community, but you know they can make up whatever excuses and hold me here for as long as they wish,” he said.
“I would understand if I was immediately sent back home, but when they can’t deport me but keep me in detention anyway they are basically keeping me hostage and mentally torturing me.
“Even though I have signed to go back three months ago, nothing is moving for me. Which means I will be held here for God knows how long, because they can just make up excuses on the go and keep me as long as they want.”
Mr Zakharin described the privately run immigration detention centre as “very corrupt” and full of violent criminals, and said he has had to fight back on multiple occasions after being attacked by detainee drug addicts.
“This place is like hell,” he said.
Mr Zakharin said he left Ukraine after his hometown was targeted by Russian missiles, and came to Australia as a refugee because he had distant relatives in the country, and that if he goes back he could also be forced into the armed forces as he is a military-aged male.
Noticer News asked the Department of Home Affairs why Mr Zakharin was still being detained if deportation to Ukraine was impossible, but did not receive an official response in time for publication.
South African civil engineer Matthew Gruter had his work visa cancelled by immigration minister Tony Burke in November last year after taking part in a peaceful and police-approved NSN protest, followed by British veteran Ryan Turner in January for giving NSN members boxing lessons.
Mr Gruter was deported within weeks along with his wife and newborn baby, while Mr Turner is fighting deportation from inside Western Australia’s Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre.
Header image: Left, Yan Zakharin. Right, the Melbourne Immigration Detention Centre (supplied).
