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20 June 2018, 14:34

About 400 foreigners apply for protection in Belarus in January-May 2018

MINSK, 20 June (BelTA) - About 400 foreigners have applied for protection in Belarus since the beginning of the year, Alexander Tatura, deputy head of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Belarusian Interior Ministry, told the media on 20 June, BelTA informs.

“In 2018 the number of applications for protection remains high. As of 1 June this year, about 400 applications have been filed. Of these, about 90% are from citizens of Ukraine. There are also applications from citizens of Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and some other countries,” Alexander Tatura said.

He noted a very high percentage of positive decisions on the applications - about 80%. According to the specialist, the main reason is that the majority of protection seekers come from regions of armed conflicts.

Belarus' national asylum system is based on the internationally recognized concepts of protection. An alien may not be expelled to a country where his life or freedom would be threatened. “Work is in progress to improve the asylum system. In 2018 work continued on the implementation of the provisions of the fifth edition of the law on forced migration that entered into force on 1 July 2017. Aliens who are provided subsidiary protection, including citizens of the CIS countries, now have the right to healthcare services on an equal basis with foreigners permanently residing in Belarus. Foreigners who are granted refugee status have the right to healthcare services on an equal basis as citizens of Belarus,” Alexander Tatura noted.

He stressed that the successful functioning of the asylum system is largely based on constructive interaction between the government bodies, international organizations and non-governmental organizations.

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