Since the invasion of Ukraine, a remarkable number of pregnant Russian women have traveled to Argentina. However, it is not the attractive landscapes and beautiful beaches that should attract the tourists, but rather the legal situation: children born in Argentina are automatically granted citizenship. The authorities suspect that an illegal network could be behind it and have launched an investigation.
Thousands of pregnant Russian women who have entered the South American country have already been counted. “There is an ongoing investigation into who is behind these gangs that bring men and women here. It’s a multi-million dollar business,” Argentina’s immigration director, Florencia Carignano, told La Nacion newspaper. Searches have been carried out in the posh Puerto Madero neighborhood of Buenos Aires, seizing computers, mobile phones, entry documents and cash.
Immigration Service: “There is something strange”
On Friday alone, 83 women from Russia landed at Buenos Aires airport, 16 of whom were pregnant. Six of the alleged tourists were briefly detained for inconsistencies in their papers, but were later allowed to enter the country. “There is something strange when pregnant women get into the 34th week. So we suspect they don’t just want to go on holiday,” said Carignano.
Stricter access rules for Russians as background?
In general, foreign women are not prohibited from traveling to Argentina to give birth – all that is required is a special visa. Last year, about 10,500 pregnant Russian women came to the country, about 5,800 of them in the last trimester of pregnancy. It is suspected that the stricter entry rules for Russians that have been introduced in many countries – including the EU – since the start of the war, are the reason for this birth tourism.
If the children are automatically granted citizenship, it is also not a complicated task for the parents to also apply for Argentine citizenship. With a passport from the South American country, you can travel to more than 160 countries without a visa.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
