Pregnant woman and husband to be deported from Blackburn to separate countries

Childhood sweethearts Vladimer Shakhbazyan and Diana Nadryan fled to England when Russia and Georgia were in midst of a bloody war a year ago.

But their visas have expired and Vladimer is set to be returned to Georgia, with pregnant Diana facing deportation to Russia.

The couple, who are living in Wimberly Street, Blackburn, said they would “do anything” to stay together and both fear for their safety if they are deported.

A local councillor has joined their fight to stay in the country but their chances are looking remote following a string of failed asylum applications.

Nadryan, 24, who is four months pregnant, said: “It’s like having a broken life. We have been through so much to be together and now we are getting sent to two different countries.

“If anything this has brought us closer together. We have done everything we can to stay together, but now our papers will not let us stay.”

The couple, who are Kurdish, met as children growing up in Georgia, but Diana’s family moved to Russia and she now has a Russian passport while Vladimer remained in Georgia.

Vladimer’s family refuse to accept their relationship because of cultural differences relating to their Kurdish background, and the couple say they would be hounded out of Georgia.

They have spent time living in Russia together but Vladimer, 25, who wants to be a fireman, said he had been beaten by Russian police and it became impossible to stay after the war broke out in August.

After fleeing Moscow they spent time living together in London as students but their visas expired and immigration judges have rejected their appeals to stay.

Vladimer said: “I try not to think about not seeing the baby, the most important thing is for it to be healthy.”

Lib Dem, councillor Sajid Ali, who represents Bastwell, is lobbying the authorities including Blackburn MP and former Home Secretary Jack Straw.

He said: “It is a very sad case, they should be allowed to be together.”