The number of asylum applications almost doubled in Lithuania in comparison to the year 2007. 215 applications for asylum were registered by the authorities during the year, compared to 124 in 2007.
More than half of all asylum applicants originated from Chechnya, Russian Federation.
11 persons were recognised as refugees. Subsidiary protection was provided to 52 persons. This form of protection entitles a person to a temporary residence permit for one year, after which an extension has to be applied for. Usually, after some five years of renewed temporary permits there is a possibility to be granted a permanent residence permit.
The procedure for determination of refugee status or other needs of protection lasts from 3 to 6 months in Lithuania.
While waiting for their decisions, asylum applicants as a rule are accommodated in a semi-open facility at the Foreigners’ Registration Centre in the town of Pabrade. By the end of the year 2008 there were 115 asylum seekers from 16 countries waiting for their final asylum decisions, among them 34 minors and 19 women.
After the form of protection has been decided and stay permits are issued, refugees participate in an integration programme at the Refugee Reception Centre in Rukla, which is run by the Ministry of Social Affairs. At the end of the year 2008, 55 persons who had been granted protection in Lithuania were taking part in integration activities at this centre.
After that, the refugees are provided with accommodation in different parts of Lithuania. By the end of 2008 there were 173 refugees living in private accommodation in 10 different local communities, mainly in Kaunas, Electrenai and Vilnius.
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