Majority of asylum seekers in Armenia are from Syria, Ukraine and Iraq – official
This year 52 foreign citizens applied to Armenia’s State Migration Service in an attempt to be granted an asylum, Petros Aghababyan, Head of the Asylum Unit of the State Migration Service, noted at a press conference on Monday.
In his words, the absolute majority of the asylum seekers are Armenians, with major part of them being Syrian citizens. Citizens of Iraq and Ukraine are also among the asylum seekers in Armenia.
Mr. Aghababyan informed that the number of applications for asylum in Armenia increases multiple times when the situation escalates in regional countries. For instance, they received only 68 applications in 2010, with a total of 320 applications received in 2017, amid the developments in Syria.
Petros Aghababyan informed that when a citizen requests an asylum, he is temporarily housed at a special shelter and is provided with food and hygiene items. He stays at the shelter while his application is considered. If the denial is appealed to court, he continues to stay at the shelter.
The official added that after being granted refugee status, the person is provided with asylum in Armenia.