No refugee status for Ukrainians in 2014
PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp
26.01.2015 10:36
Not one Ukrainian citizen was granted refugee status by Poland’s Office for Foreigners in 2014, despite the institution receiving around 2,000 such applications.
A man passes by a damaged house in the Vostochniy district of Mariupol, Ukraine, 25 January 2015. Photo: PAP/EPA/ANASTASIA VLASOVA
According to a report published by the Office for Foreigners, the denial of refugee status for the Ukrainians is due to stringent procedures laid out by the Geneva Convention, which states that individuals applying for such status must demonstrate justified fear of persecution and cannot find shelter in other regions of their country of residence.
Last year, the Office for Foreigners gave protection to 727 citizens from various countries, of which 262 gained refugee status.
Almost 2,000 people received a negative decision, while 5,500 cases were dropped, usually due to lack of interest from the individuals in question to continue the case, the Office reports.
Although no Ukrainians were granted refugee status, around a dozen applicants received decisions on protection and given permits for ‘tolerated’ leave to remain in Poland.
Meanwhile, the Office for Foreigners reports that over 28,000 Ukrainians applied not for refugee status, but for permission to live and work in the country.
The Interior Ministry and Office Foreigners underline that all applications for refugee status are continually monitored and each case is reviewed on an individual basis. (jb)
Source: PAP