Moscow has announced that 40 Afghan citizens applied for asylum in Russia during the first three months of the current year.
Russian state news agency TASS reported on Sunday, 27 Sawr, that the total number of asylum applications in Russia during this period reached 1,329.
According to the statistics, Ukrainian citizens submitted the highest number of applications with 712 requests. Syrians ranked second with 232 applications, followed by Iranians with 52.
Afghans were placed fourth with 40 asylum requests, while citizens of Uzbekistan ranked fifth with 25 applications.
The figures show a decline in asylum applications from Afghan citizens compared to the same period last year.
During the first quarter of 2025, 64 asylum requests from Afghans had been registered.
Reports also indicate that Russia rarely approves asylum applications from Afghan nationals, with many cases rejected in recent years.
Obtaining asylum in Russia grants legal residency, the right to work without a permit, access to healthcare and education, and certain social protections.
Analysts say Russia’s strict asylum policies and limited long-term residency opportunities have reduced the country’s attractiveness for Afghan asylum seekers.
Experts also note that many Afghan migrants increasingly view Russia as a temporary transit route rather than a preferred destination for long-term settlement.
According to observers, low approval rates and uncertainty surrounding legal status continue to discourage many Afghans from pursuing asylum in Russia despite ongoing instability and economic hardship in Afghanistan.
