A total of 1,300 foreigners applied for refugee status in Poland in the first half of the year, 650 of them for the first time, the Office for Foreigners' press officer, Jakub Dudziak, has informed PAP.
Dudziak also said that of the 1,300 applications, 169 fulfilled the necessary conditions for international protection. A negative decision was issued in 1,000 cases and in 730 instances the procedure has been suspended.
According to data from the Office for Foreigners, the number of refugee claims in the first half of 2020 was 29 percent down on a year earlier. The main countries of claimants' origin were Russia (819 people), Ukraine (144), Tajikistan (58), Georgia (34) and Turkey (34).
"In the first half of this year, the conditions for granting international protection were met by 169 foreigners," the office reported. "They were mostly citizens of Turkey - 47 people, Russia - 38 and Tajikistan - 17. Negative decisions were received by 1,000 foreigners. Mainly citizens of Russia - 582 and Ukraine - 176."
The Office for Foreigners explained that foreigners are granted refugee status if they face persecution or a real threat to life or health in their country of origin.
SOURCE: The First News
