Armenpress
74 FOREIGNERS ASK FOR ASYLUM IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS: In the first eight months of this year
34 foreigners were granted permission for temporary asylum in Armenia, one
was granted refugee status, the rest of cases are being considered by a
government-affiliated department for refugees and migrants.
The department said 74 foreigners applied to it in this period asking for
asylum. Fifty-nine of them were Iraqi citizens asking for temporary asylum.
The majority of them were ethnic Armenians, who say they fled their country
because of threats against Christians. People asking for temporary asylum
are given first a three-month period and if they do not leave Armenia after
this period expires they may be given a 12-month asylum period, which is
subject to prolongation.
Last year 199 foreigners asked for asylum in Armenia, 168 were from Iraq.