More than 26,000 immigrants to Kosovo, over 50 percent from Syria alone

Numerous young people from different Middle Eastern countries have recently been seen on the streets of Pristina. Escaped from crisis centres, through illegal routes many of them have entered Kosovo, then to Western states.

That during this year, there has been an increase in the number of migrants and asylum requests from citizens of Middle Eastern countries, says Department of State, Asylum and Migration Director Valon Krasniqi. He says only during this one in Kosovo have 2600 foreign citizens come, where only half have sought asylum.

By the time we had about 600 asylum requests, in 2019 we had considerable growth. Between January 1st and December 31, 2019, we had 2100 asylum applications. So it's a huge increase compared to the previous year. The growing trend has also continued in 2020. From January 1st until now, when we speak in our country, over 2600 migrants have come. Where about 1,300 have exploited their right to international protection or asylum. As I said, they come from different Asian and African countries. Over 50 percent are from Syria, Syrians dominate the demand for asylum, and the arrival of migrants generally”, he relates.

In large numbers these people also come from Morocco, Iraq, Palestine, Libya and other countries. Krasniqi shows that in addition to the challenges of both accommodating and other services, these persons have also recently caused numerous incidents.

The last “is also being challenged by the tendency of a part of immigrants to disrupt order and tranquillity in public places in our country. Not all immigrants and asylum seekers cause incidents and disrupt public order and tranquillity. There are mostly immigrants from Morocco, Algeria, and some other countries that have caused the recent incidents public opinion has been reported on. Over 90 percent of migrants enter Kosovo in an irregular manner. After meeting with the Kosovo Police within Kosovo's territory, they exploit their right to seek asylum”, Krasniqi shows.

A few days ago, a mosque in the village of Magur in Lipjan was engulfed by flames. Magura is the village that houses potential immigrants and asylum seekers in Kosovo. This glass has sometimes been used as a refuge from nursing homes. The next case has been at the facility where some refugees reside in Vranidol, Pristina.

Kosovo Preress has sought answers from the Kosovo Police Information Office on these occasions. However, their response does not specify cases except those of unauthorized crossing of border crossings.

At your request, we announce that the Kosovo Police, the cases are nominated based on the appointments of criminal acts under the Penal Code, the POR cannot afford criminal acts to be divided according to the ethnic or state affiliation of those involved. To comply with the request, you refer to the 24-hour report, while we are conveying the number of cases for this year (January-9th) of cases of unauthorized crossing of border crossings or border line) where 196 cases in general were recorded”, Bajram Krasniqi stressed.

Krasniqi stresses that the majority of those coming to Kosovo are Syria, where 600 of them have sought asylum.

“51 percent are from Syria from the total of 2600, while only Syrians do we have in 2020, over 600 are from Syria. Morocco-138, Iraq-18, Palestine-108 and other countries. These are from their asylum requirement. 1300 people have been using their right to asylum, over 600 are from Syria. Other migrants who have come into the territory and have not sought asylum are 1300, however, the same number as those who have sought asylum. And of those who have passed transition and have not exploited the right to asylum, out of 1300 are 724 Syrians”, he indicated.

Security expert Drizan Shala tells Kosovo that the country is already an integral part of Europe's road, which is being used as a channel for transition to certain locations. However, it raises concern that refugees who come from Middle East countries must verify whether they are part of armed terrorist structures.

The key and essential problem for Kosovo is that these citizens, or refugees, who apply for asylum in Kosovo to be verified through diplomatic channels, via Interpol or Europol. For these individuals to be seen as part of the terrorist armed structures in those countries where they have war sites. So, their verification that we should not give asylum to people who are part of ISIS”, Shala points out.

Shala emphasises that the state of Kosovo must be very vigilant against these people. If these persons violate Kosovo's security, he points out that these individuals should be imprisoned in the country of origin.

These people if their verification is not made may be potential candidates to conduct any terrorist attacks in the country. The state of Kosovo should be very vigilant with regard to these individuals who can move to Kosovo through the granting of refugee status or asylum seekers in Kosovo”, he says.

For this, Minister of Internal Affairs Agim Veliu has been addressed Friday through a public letter, chief of the European Union Office in Kosovo Thomas Szunyog. This letter notes that over the past few years, they are facing cases when Serbian authorities in an organized way accumulate and then transport migrants to the vicinity of the border with the Republic of Kosovo in order to cross the same route through the illegal territory of our state.

“Furthermore, the same have claimed to be exercising physical violence against them and, in addition, have been threatened with violence if they try to return to Serbia's territory. For such actions of the Serbian authorities, it has also been reported in various international media”, he stresses his concern through this letter Minister Veliu.

In addition, it has stressed that during interviews by the immigrant authorities, there have been reports of those who have already gathered around 400 migrants in the vicinity of Presevo in order to be transported to the vicinity of the border with the Republic of Kosovo. Currently, 150 asylum seekers are sheltered at the Center for Asia.