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World Refugee Survey 2004 Country Report
At the end of 2003, Turkmenistan hosted around 14,100 refugees and asylum seekers, including about 13,500 considered prima facie refugees by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), mostly from Tajikistan (12,300) and 554 refugees, mostly from Afghanistan (408). UNHCR received 40 asylum applications, mostly from Azerbaijan (20) and granted 17 persons refugee status, rejected 14 persons, 1 case was pending, and 8 persons did not pursue their applications.
UNHCR assisted in the voluntary repatriation of 33 Afghan refugees and 130 Tajik refugees in 2003.
Developments in 2003 In February 2003, Turkmenistan created the State Service of Turkmenistan for Registration of Foreign Citizens charged with regulating migration and the registration of foreign citizens, including stateless persons. It will also accept and determine refugee status, register the refugees, and ensure their voluntary repatriation. At the end of the year the service was not fully operational, and UNHCR conducted the refugee status determination of individual asylum seekers. The Turkmen government recognized UNHCR certificates, and refugees enjoyed the same rights as citizens. Prima facie refugees were generally well integrated.
Internal Displacement See South Asia Regional Summary
NEWS AND REPORTS
