Igor's story

Igor is discovering Christianity for the first time through Bible studies at Heathrow's Immigration Removal Centre.

Igor Solovyoe (38) came to the UK ‘to visit a friend’ ten years ago. He came from his home in Uzbekistan ‘without any documents’ and now refuses to return because he does not recognise the political status of his home country.

‘I’m not a citizen of Uzbekistan,’ he says, ‘I was born in the Soviet Union.’ So, it’s perhaps not a surprise that he finds himself at the Heathrow Immigration Removal Centre awaiting deportation.

It’s here that he is discovering Christianity for the first time, taking part in a weekly Bible study led by Russian chaplain, Dmitri Sorokin.

In the Soviet Union, religion was nothing... I didn’t get into the Bible there  

‘In the Soviet Union, religion was nothing,’ he says. ‘I didn’t get into the Bible there. I came into it since arriving at the detention centre. ‘I don’t have a Bible of my own,’ he adds, ‘but I’d like to because then I could read it in my own room.’

Igor has spent 10 years working in IT in Britain, but as part of the black economy. ‘I work in IT, so work is not a problem,’ he says. ‘I have friends here. But without documents I can’t travel. I am stuck.’ He looks resigned at the idea of being deported. ‘I’m too old to start again,’ he says. 

Studying the Bible is proving to be a positive distraction in a time of uncertainty. ‘I’ve just started to read the Bible,’ he says. ‘We’re studying John. It’s interesting for me now.’

Igor can access the Bible thanks to our supporters. Find out more about our work in Heathrow’s Immigration Removal Centre.