Afghan Asylum Requests in Russia Drop in Early 2025
Russia’s TASS news agency has reported that in the first quarter of this year, 40 Afghan citizens filed asylum applications in the country, marking a decrease compared to the same period last year and placing Afghans fourth among asylum seekers.
According to the report published on Sunday, May 17, a total of 1,329 asylum requests were registered in Russia during this timeframe. Ukrainian citizens topped the list with 712 applications, followed by Syrians with 232 and Iranians with 52, occupying second and third places respectively.
Uzbek citizens also ranked fifth with 25 applications. These statistics are based on an analysis of Russian Interior Ministry data conducted by the TASS news agency.
In the first quarter of 2024, the number of Afghan asylum requests was 64, which has now dropped to 40. At that time, Syrian citizens were the largest group of applicants with 769 requests, followed by Ukrainians, Afghans, Uzbeks, and Kazakhs.
Despite ongoing migration from Afghanistan in recent years, reports indicate that Russia rarely approves asylum requests from Afghans, with many cases being rejected. This situation continues amid increased movements from Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover, as many residents flee due to security concerns and social and economic restrictions.
Under Russian law, granting asylum can provide the right to legal residence, permission to work without a separate permit, access to public health services, and educational opportunities. In some cases, it can also pave the way for permanent residency and citizenship.
