Increasing number of Belarusians applying to EU+ countries for asylum

With the demonstrations and marches in Belarus going on since August, when Alexander Lukashenko won the country's sixth term as president with 80% of the votes, the number of Belarusians in the EU+ countries calling for international security has increased.

The data collected and disclosed by the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) indicates that while the number of Belarusians applying for EU+ asylum remains low relative to other national groups, the number of asylum seekers has risen compared to previous years.

The EASO states in its press release that while the total number of asylum applicants in the EU+ for all nationalities increased by 7% in September compared to the previous month, Belarusians applied for international security in the EU+ in September more than in any other month at least since 2008.

"Although this nationality registered a notable increase in first-time applications in September (almost twice as many as in August), the number remains very low for 186 first-time applications and is not necessarily indicative of a trend that is developing," the press release states.

It also points out that the first higher number of asylum applications submitted by Belarusians occurred in August, the same month in which elections were held and demonstrations began, when 94 first-time applications by Belarusian nationals were received by the EU+ asylum offices.

The total number of requests received in 2019 by the same national community was 71.

On the other hand, the EASO reports that asylum patterns continue to be influenced by the COVID-19 restrictions implemented by the Member States, while the number of applications increased by 7 per cent in September compared to August.

Although the number of applications filed in September (42,800) has risen to July levels, it remains 35% lower than the number of applications filed in January of this year (65,700), prior to the outbreak of the pandemic in Europe.

The total number of applications received this year by Member States' asylum offices is 337,830, which is also 35% lower than in the same timeframe last year when 516,555 applications were received.

Given the decline in the number of applications compared to last year the major national applicant groups remain the same:

• Syrian People
• Afghani
• Colombian people
• Venezuelan People
• The

Back in October, SchengenVisaInfo.com announced that there had been an increase in the number of Belarusians seeking foreign protection in Poland, with a total of 152 applications received by Polish asylum offices between January and the end of September 2020.

Belarusian people have been protesting for almost four months now, alleging that President Lukashenko rigged the presidential election in order to lead the country to another term. Lukashenko, who has been ruling the country for 25 years now, is also called the last dictator of Europe."