Press Release: UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DIFFICULT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS GROWING RAPIDLY

At today`s press conference, NGO Asylum "Safe House”, which raises the social problems in society and acts as an active partner of other NGOs, state and local governments, drew the attention of journalists and the public to the serious problem of trafficking. Over the past six months, under the influence of the complicated economic situation in Latvia, the number of victims who have suffered from such form of trafficking as fictitious marriage has tripled. A particularly large number of such marriages were arranged with the citizens of third-world countries whose aim is to obtain a permanent residence permit in the European Union. Such legalization of immigration is closely linked with international criminal networks, which revolve significant financial resources. Countries where fictitious marriages are closed most often are Ireland and Cyprus.