Germans Lead EU Citizens Seeking Temporary Asylum in Russia
German nationals top EU citizens seeking temporary asylum in Russia, with 49 applications from January to September 2026, TASS reported.
German citizens have filed the most applications for temporary asylum in Russia among EU nationals, with 49 seeking refuge from January to September 2026, Russia's state news agency TASS reported on Sunday.
The Russian Interior Ministry's report revealed that Latvia and Lithuania followed with 36 and 12 applications, respectively.
Other EU countries with applicants include Italy and Estonia with seven each, France with six, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic with four each, and Greece with three.
This trend is not new, as German citizens have consistently held the top spot for several years.
In 2025, 93 German citizens applied for asylum, while 116 and 111 did so in 2024 and 2023, respectively.
These numbers are the highest among foreigners from other EU countries.
In the first three quarters of 2026 alone, a total of 3,802 foreign nationals applied for asylum in Russia.
Asylum Trends
The reasons behind this trend are not specified in the report, but it highlights a notable pattern of German citizens seeking temporary asylum in Russia.
Background
Russia has a history of providing asylum to individuals from various countries, including those from the European Union.
The country's asylum policies and procedures are governed by its federal laws and international obligations.
The number of asylum applications can fluctuate based on global events, political tensions, and economic conditions.
