Asylum-seeking family of three plunge to their deaths in Glasgow

Three asylum seekers, possibly of Russian origin, died on Sunday after they jumped from a high-rise apartment block in Glasgow.

Although the police have suggested that the deceased were a family, the identities are yet to be confirmed, as the victims’ next of kin are still being contacted. The Times Online newspaper, however, has reported the family to be parents Serge and Tatiana Serykh, and their 21-year-old son.

Neighbors say the family, who allegedly tied themselves together before leaping from the 15th floor of the 31-storey complex, were about to be deported from the country as their applications to stay in the UK had been rejected.

It is reported that earlier the family had been granted asylum in Canada, but they left for Britain in 2007 after a dispute with the Canadian authorities.

“Positive Action in Housing”, a charity in support of asylum seekers, has expressed concern over the cause of the incident and has called for an inquiry into the deaths.

Russian officials in the UK have not yet confirmed if the dead were Russian.

Robina Qureshi, human rights campaigner and the Director of Positive Action in Housing says asylum seekers in Britain are treated worse than animals..

“Britain is ready to provide asylum to someone if they are rich and if they can bring money into the country. But if you are poor and you want to claim asylum here because you cannot live if the country of origin because it’s unsafe to live there, it’s hard. In fact you are treated worse than criminals,” she said.