16 Feb 2015 13:25

Russia grants asylum, refugee status to over 260,000 Ukrainians

MOSCOW. Feb 16 (Interfax) - Almost 300,000 Ukrainian citizens have asked Russia for either temporary asylum or a refugee status, head of the Federal Migration Service (FMS) naturalization department Valentina Kazakova said, replying to an Interfax question.

"Temporary asylum has been granted to more than 260,000 people, and about 250 people have been given refugee status," she said.

"Mostly, people fear for their lives, they generally fit the temporary asylum status criteria," Kazakova added.

In all, more than 290,000 Ukrainians have filed applications seeking temporary asylum and refugee status in Russia, she said.