Afghan Asylum Applications in Russia Among Top Ten Nationalities in 2025
The latest reports from Russian media indicate a rise in asylum applications during the first nine months of 2025, with Afghan nationals among the top ten groups seeking protection in Russia. According to data released by the TASS news agency, Afghan citizens submitted 211 applications for temporary asylum during this period. While this figure has not changed significantly compared to the previous year, it points to a consistent and ongoing migration trend from Afghanistan to Russia.
Syria ranks at the top of the list, with 2,823 applications, followed by Ukraine with 2,527 cases. Despite a relative decrease in applications from Ukrainians compared to last year, they continue to represent one of the largest groups seeking asylum in Russia.
Following Afghanistan, applicants from Uzbekistan, Germany, Turkmenistan, Palestine, Armenia, Moldova, and Israel also filed a considerable number of asylum requests. Specifically, Uzbek nationals submitted 153 applications, Germans 93, Turkmens 66, Palestinians 53, Armenians 45, Moldovans 44, and Israelis 37.
TASS added that the wide diversity of nationalities and the growing number of applications have posed new challenges for Russian authorities in processing and providing services to asylum seekers. Meanwhile, the continued migration of Afghans to countries like Russia is seen as a direct consequence of the ongoing humanitarian crisis, lack of security, and insufficient employment opportunities under Taliban governance in Afghanistan. This situation once again underscores the Taliban administration’s failure to ensure a dignified and forward-looking quality of life for the people of Afghanistan.
