MINSK, 17 June (BelTA) – Over 90% of persons who submitted asylum applications in Belarus in 2019 were residents of Ukraine, Aleksei Begun, the Head of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Belarusian Interior Ministry, told reporters on 17 June, BelTA has learned.
In his words, the number of displaced persons seeking asylum and protection in Belarus has been on the rise since 2014 because of the events in the southeast of Ukraine and armed conflicts in a number of countries of Asia and Africa. “Before 2013, the migration authorities received up to 200 asylum applications annually, while after 2014 the figure surged 4-6 times. As of 1 June, 331 foreigners applied for asylum or additional protection in Belarus; 92% of them were Ukrainian nationals. Apart from them, many asylum applications are submitted by citizens of Afghanistan, Palestine, Yemen and some other states,” Aleksei Begun informed.
He noted that Belarus grants refugee status to about 85% of applicants. So many asylum seekers receive refugee status in Belarus because the majority of applicants come from areas affected by military conflicts.
“The effective national asylum system is based on the internationally recognized concept of protection of forced migrants. These people can claim asylum in Belarus and have their requests for sanctuary processed. Belarus fully observes the right to non- refoulement. It means that foreigners cannot be returned to the place of persecution,” Aleksei Begun noted.
He added that the ministry will keep working to resolve issues facing forced migrants in the territory of Belarus.
