126 of 364 asylum seekers in Georgia in the first three months of 2022 are Ukrainians

In the first quarter of this year, 364 foreign citizens were registered as asylum seekers in Georgia, of which 126 were Ukrainians and 21 were Russians, the Statistical Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia said on Friday.

 

In the reported period, between January and March of 2022, 52 asylum seekers were citizens of Turkey, 31 of Iran, 17 of Afghanistan and 16 of Egypt.

 

In the first quarter of this year, a total of 51 people received humanitarian status from the asylum seekers, 13 of them were citizens of Ukraine and none of them were Russians.

 

Twenty-one citizens of Afghanistan and seven  citizens of Yemen have also been granted the status.

 

“Neither Ukrainian nor Russian citizens have been granted refugee status during this period. A total of nine foreign nationals received this status, including citizens of Egypt, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey,” said the ministry.

 

In the past three months, the status was denied to 194 foreign nationals, including 10 Russian and non-Ukrainian citizens, Also, 50 citizens of Iran, 30 of Egypt, 21 of Turkey and 14 citizens of Jordan were denied the status.

 

During the same period, a total of 40 foreign citizens were deported from Georgia,four of whom were Russian citizens. Citizens of Turkey, Iran, India and Egypt were also among those deported.

 

“It should be noted that in the first three months of 2022, the number of asylum seekers from Russia and Ukraine increased significantly. In particular, during the same period of  2021, only three citizens of Ukraine and 54 citizens of Russia were registered asylum seekers in Georgia,” said the ministry.

 

A refugee status is granted to a person who is not a citizen of Georgia or a stateless person permanently residing in Georgia, is in Georgia, has a well-founded fear that he or she may be persecuted for race, religion, creed, nationality, social affiliation or political views; Can not or does not want to return to his country of origin or enjoy the protection of that country out of such fear.

 

 

Humanitarian status is granted to a person who is not a citizen of Georgia or a stateless person permanently residing in Georgia, fails to meet the conditions for granting refugee status and meets any of the following: was forced to leave his or her country of origin. Due to disturbance or significant disturbance of public order; Due to legal grounds, in particular, international obligations imposed by Georgia, he / she cannot be forcibly returned to his / her country of origin and who cannot travel to another country; returning to the country of origin could seriously endanger his life or violate his rights.