Afghans in Russia

Russian Afghans are Russian citizens and non-citizen residents born in, or with ancestors from, Afghanistan living in Russia and the second largest Afghan community in Europe is part of the Afghan diaspora. A third of the population live in Moscow and the largest community is found around the Sevastopol Hotel, which is home to thousands of Afghan residents and many Afghan-run businesses.[1] In 2007 UNHCR reported many, including children of officials who worked for the pro-Soviet government in Kabul during the 1980s, have failed to gain refugee status.[2] Refugee status approval rate had been between 2% to 5% and about 30% for temporary asylum applications[2]. Many Afghans had entered Russia through Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and were blocked from making refugee application under the “safe third country” rule.[2] Between 1997 and end of 2007, only 844 Afghans[2] were granted refugee status in Russia. Between 2002 and 2007, only 548 Afghans[2] were voluntarily repatriated from Russia with the help of UNHCR.