The film 'Terminal' in reality: a Russian lives at the airport because of the coronavirus

Russian Mikhail Novoselov flew to study in Germany, but the German border guards refused him entry because of the coronavirus pandemic. Now he lives in the transit zone of the airport in Frankfurt. Writes about this DW.

Photo: Shutterstock

Mikhail Novoselov flew to Germany for one semester as an exchange student at the Humboldt University of Berlin, but the German Federal Police, which acts as a border service, refused him entry due to the lack of “urgent reasons.” The man was subject to a ban on the entry of third-country citizens into the EU, introduced in connection with the coronavirus pandemic.

The German Embassy compiled lists of people wishing to leave Russia and informed them of an extraordinary flight from Moscow to Frankfurt. On Friday, April 17, he delivered 133 people to Germany. More than 100 people in a similar situation still remain in Russia, some are separated from their families, someone runs out of money.

Among those who flew to Germany on Friday was 23-year-old Mikhail Novoselov. He was the only passenger on this flight who was denied entry. German police deemed him to have no “urgent reasons” for entry. Due to the lack of return flights, he was trapped in the international area of ​​the airport and has been living there ever since.

“I really wanted to go to Germany”

Mikhail said that he will soon finish his master’s degree at an institute in Tomsk, where he is studying to become a sociologist. He really wanted to get to Germany right now because it was the “last opportunity” to study abroad as an exchange student before graduating from a university in Russia. Mikhail was supposed to become a student at the Humboldt University of Berlin for one semester.

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The young man's troubles began a month ago. On March 20, he flew to Berlin, where he was denied entry for the first time. According to Mikhail, the border guards then did not like his lack of housing in Berlin, despite the fact that his check-in into a student dormitory had “already been agreed upon, and the administration was waiting for him to conclude an agreement.”

I decided to try my luck again

As a result, Mikhail had to return to the Russian Federation; he spent almost a month in Moscow, but on April 17 he decided to try his luck again. In the WhatsApp chat “Return” (organized by German residents stuck in Russia with Russian passports), by “lucky chance” he learned about an extraordinary flight to Frankfurt and bought a ticket.

He contacted the embassy, ​​where he was confirmed that his national visa is a sufficient reason to enter Germany (along with citizenship, temporary or permanent residence permit). However, according to German laws, the final decision to enter the country is made by the border services.

What is the position of the German authorities?

The refusal issued by the German Federal Police to Mikhail states that his current stay in Germany poses “a significant threat to public interests and could endanger public health.”

The police refer to the ban imposed by the European Union on March 17 due to the coronavirus pandemic on the entry of citizens from third countries without the right to reside. Specifically in Mikhail’s case, “urgent, absolutely necessary reasons for entry were not stated.” It is worth noting that although the summer semester at Humboldt University officially begins on April 20, all classes are still being held online, and it is unclear when they will resume in the university building.

All other passengers on the flight were allowed entry, including those who, like Mikhail, arrived for the first time on a national visa. True, in their case we are talking about the so-called “fiancé visa”.

Remake of the film "Terminal" in reality

After Mikhail recovered from the first shock, he began to arrange his life at the airport. The first thing that came to his aid was a Lufthansa employee who was “just passing by.” As a result, the unknown man listened to Mikhail and arranged for him to be given a cot. Mikhail is sleeping in the general transit area of ​​the airport. Employees bring him food and drinks.

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“They even asked me if I had any allergies and learned about my food preferences. Everything is arranged at a high level,” said Mikhail. He was also given a shower voucher, and two days later he was able to take a shower for the first time. The suitcase has not yet been returned to him.

Basically, Michael spends time alone and walks around the unusually deserted Frankfurt airport. Sometimes he manages to communicate with rare passengers in a pandemic. For example, he talked about three Bulgarian citizens who were also not allowed into Germany.

The young man is actively supported by friends and other participants in the “Return” chat - they worry and constantly ask what is happening to him now. Mikhail also goes to check in with the police several times a day, his passport remains with the police, and in return he was given a “transit passport.”

Waiting for a return flight

What's next? Mikhail is waiting for a return flight to Moscow, however, these days they are extremely rare, and it is unclear how long he will have to live at the airport. According to him, border guards are considering the possibility of sending him to Minsk, which seems doubtful to the young man. “It is not clear where I will isolate myself and how I will go to Russia if the borders are closed,” he added.

However, Mikhail still does not lose hope of getting to Germany: he wants to try to get registration in Berlin through online services, which, he believes, will become an argument in communicating with border guards. Michael also found through acquaintances a lawyer in Frankfurt, who is now studying his documents.

Mikhail does not agree that he poses any threat to the health of other people, he is ready to provide negative tests for coronavirus from Kommunarka near Moscow and even “take the test again in Germany if he is given such an opportunity.”

“I’m ready to self-isolate in a hostel for two weeks if they let me into the country,” Mikhail said.

The man admits that he took a risk when he flew to Germany for the second time. However, this was done deliberately: “I didn’t know when there would be another opportunity to get to Germany. The visa could have expired, but new ones are not being issued now. So I decided to take a chance."

On the evening of April 19, the third day of his stay at the airport began.

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