615 refugees registered in Kazakhstan as of Apr 1, 2010 - Ministry of Labor and Social Protection

Since January 1, 2010 new Law of Kazakhstan On refugees has entered into force, the Vice Minister noted. The majority of people who were granted refugee status are primarily from Afghanistan - 99.3% (Hazara people, Pashtuns, Uzbek and Tajik people). The others are from Ethiopia, Somalia and Nigeria.

The total number of refugees in our country remains stable. For instance, since the beginning of 2010 10 foreign families have applied to Kazakhstani authorities for refugee status. Five of them have already received this status; the documents of other families are under consideration still.

In 1998 Kazakhstan joined the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention and took certain obligations relating to the refugees before the world community.

The new law of the Republic of Kazakhstan On refugees defines the legal status of the asylum seekers and refugees on the territory of the country. The Law determines the criteria and procedures of granting the refugee status, provides for protection of the rights of the people seeking for asylum and refugees as well as it determines their basic rights and obligations on the Kazakh territory.

As B. Nurymbetov added, in conformity with the international law and recommendations of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Kazakhstan, special provisions regarding the children of the refugees and travel documents for them are introduced. These travel documents are also valid outside Kazakhstan.