HUNDREDS OF GEORGIAN NATIVES ASK FOR ASYLUM IN RUSSIA – RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY

Interfax
Sept 3 2008
Russia

The number of applications for a refugee status filed by natives
of Georgia is increasing in Russia, said Russian Foreign Ministry’s
spokesman Andrei Nesterenko.

"For instance, since the Georgian-Ossetian conflict began Russian
Federal migration authorities have received 328 such applications,"
Nesterenko said at a briefing in Moscow on Wednesday.

Applications were filed by 288 people in North Ossetia, 19 in Moscow,
six in Ryazan and 15 elsewhere in Russia.

"The majority of applicants are ethnic Ossetians, they are followed
by ethnic Russians, Armenians, Azeri, Georgians and Ukrainians,"
Nesterenko said.

Another 42 natives of Georgia, who came to Russia through Abkhazia,
went further to other country’s regions where they are going to apply
for refugee status, he said.

"Requests for asylum are also being received by Georgian citizens who
at the time of the conflict were in Russia. They account for up to 60%
of all refugee applicants," Nesterenko said.

The people, who were displaced by the conflict, mainly Russians and
non-citizens permanently residing in South Ossetia, have not applied
for a refugee status, he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress