From Mr M. Haber

A Maltese friend of mine who is married to a Russian lady, sent me the article entitled “Lady knights and Ladies of the night” by Marisa Micallef (TMIS, 17 December).

I have studied Russian, spent some months in Moscow and Minsk and I’m also engaged to a Russian lady. When I read the above-mentioned article, I couldn't contain myself, I was really appalled. I feel that this article is very biased, clearly an offence to ALL East European women living abroad and their husbands / boyfriends. It makes the already bad stigma these women bear worse.

First of all, I couldn't understand why the author dramatized the facts by comparing the brutal killing of prostitutes in England to the successful raid carried out by the Maltese police. Was this raid the reason why the serial killer(s) in England acted in such a way?

It seems that the author, like many other Maltese (including journalists), still cannot distinguish between the Russian Federation and the rest of the former Soviet Union. Just a reminder: in 1991, the Soviet Union was dissolved and the peoples of the USSR separated themselves into 15 independent countries. A quick look at a recent geography book will confirm this.

The author created the impression that ALL East European women who leave their country for a better future can only “find some sort of income in the sex cum dance or massage trade”. They are becoming the main cause of marriage break-ups in Malta. Oh, a terrible tragedy has struck us!

It's easy to point fingers and (mis)judge but one should know the real facts before jumping to conclusions. The ex-Soviet Union covered a vast area of land and had one of the largest populations on earth. Yes, some of the East European women seek and hope for a better future outside their homeland. They leave their studies, work and families behind them. We forget the millions of other women who still prefer, and want, to live in their homeland. Unfortunately, a percentage (not all) of these women are promised a brighter future by some (not all) irresponsible men (including Maltese) who dump or exploit them. On the other hand, not all these women are “living saints” either. Life has both its bright and dark sides but unfortunately, it seems that the darker side is more evident.

The author put all these women in one class without distinction. She only mentions the “Russians”. We all know there were other female nationals present during the police raids. She also states that these blonde, East Europeans “are stunningly beautiful”. Does this mean that we should send all the Maltese brunettes to Siberia? Well, as regards beauty, it’s “in the eye of the beholder”, regardless of whether one is a “doe-eyed sod” or not! And, after all, who wouldn’t like to have a secure marriage, especially if sharing it with a person of different mentality, creed and lifestyle?

I only know of one case where a Maltese man stopped his relationship with his ex-Soviet partner. All the other men I know (about 15) are all happily married to Russians, Ukrainians and Belorussians. I can assure your readers that their wives are not lap-dancers or prostitutes and some of them even have regular and respectable jobs.

The author’s line of reasoning regarding middle-aged Maltese husbands who want to rejuvenate their love life with younger girls is absurd. It's no surprise that sooner or later their desperate Maltese wives will also start seeking out younger good-looking blond blokes! I just hope that Maltese policewomen will then raid these clubs and, hopefully, no female serial killer(s) will appear in England at that time!

These “East European girls in Malta are either working in our many catering establishments or bars that have some form of entertainment”. True. Unfortunately our Maltese laws don't help much. These women are all “red-taped”, irrespective of their purpose of stay in Malta, be it a long holiday or living for good. Most of them come here long before their wedding date to get accustomed to our Maltese lifestyle, yet they are treated as tourists. Unless they are students, these women are not granted a long-stay visa.

Upon landing here, their tough life begins. At the airport they are bombarded with lots of questions. In practically all cases, their boyfriends are responsible for lodging them and their financial needs. Since they are not EU citizens, a work permit is not granted either. So, if the couple need to buy / refurbish their new house or to organise their wedding ceremony, they have to rely mostly on the fiancé’s financial means. Finding a “legal” job is almost impossible. Employers prefer to avoid the hassle of applying for permits. A visa needs to be renewed every three months on payment of a fee. Even after marriage (when by law they should benefit from the same rights as Maltese), many employers are still reluctant to employ women from the ex-Soviet block. Even if employed, these women still face obstacles, mainly from Maltese female colleagues. I know what I’m saying. The reason behind all this is simply the negative stigma acquired by the minor cases that make the headlines in almost all the newspapers’ front pages.

I also suffered from this stigma when my girlfriend was about to come here. My friends and work colleagues teased me (jokingly but rudely) that I would soon become a rich pimp… They were all proved wrong!

The author was also incorrect when she compared the ex-Soviet citizens with Arab citizens. Who in their right mind would want to be involved in a marriage of convenience in, of all places, “Catholic” Malta? Everyone knows how difficult it is to file a separation case here, let alone a divorce! On the other hand, I fully agree with Ms Micallef that there are Maltese citizens involved in the exploitation of these lap dancers and prostitutes. The police should go for the source and not make a show of these victims of circumstances.

This is the other reality Ms Micallef didn't write about. Well, the last part of her article is a pointless attempt to cast a lighter aspect on this delicate issue. Instead, it would have been better if it had been written that there are also:

Maltese women who are prostitutes and perform as lap dancers (but don’t get arrested);

Maltese men who are happily married to Maltese and foreigners (including ex-Soviet citizens);

East European women who come here with the sole intention of starting a serious relationship.

I hope that my letter has put a different light on this subject. Thank you for your time and space.

Mark Haber