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Traumatised Ukrainian teen trapped in Calais begs PM to cut red tape so she can find safety in UK – where dad is citizen
A TRAUMATISED Ukrainian teenager trapped in Calais last night begged Boris Johnson to cut red tape so she can find safety in Britain.
Gabriela Raminishvili, 17, escaped terrifying bombardment in Kyiv only to be stranded in France for six days.
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Home Office visa chaos has prevented her and mum Maria, 45, from coming to live with her father Misha in Hornchurch, East London.
They and 600 other refugees will have to travel 70 miles to Lille to finalise the visa.
In a handwritten note to Mr Johnson, Gabriela, 17, pleaded: “Dear Prime Minister, please help me and my family and the people of Ukraine.
"We have escaped the bombing. Ukraine is under attack. Vladimir Putin is killing innocent people.
“I am lucky I have reached Calais but am not allowed into the UK. Please be kind and give the Ukrainian refugees a place of safety. Thank you.”
Scaffolder Misha, 48, has gone to Calais but has been told it will take another week to get a visa.
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The British citizen said: “Who else is going to help me if not my own Government?”
The UK army has been drafted in to help with visa applications as Tory MPs told Home Secretary Priti Patel to “get a grip”.
🔵 Read our Russia - Ukraine live blog for the very latest updates
The Sun can reveal British spooks have warned the PM that Putin has released hardened criminals from Russian and Belarusian jails who could pose as refugees and get to the UK if all checks are dropped.
Sources also warned Russia could send its own foreign agents over claiming they are Ukrainian.
Yesterday, the PM told the Cabinet extra resources were in place to bolster the visa process.
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