07:41, 30 August 2015

Iraqi Yazidis urge Armenian authorities to grant refugee status to them

Armenia community helps Yazidis families who moved to Armenia, Araks village, Armavir Region of Armenia, August 28, 2015. Photo by Tigran Petrosyan for the ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Three families of Yazidis have moved to Armenia from the Iraqi province of Shingal. They were forced to leave their village in order to escape from radical militants of the "Islamic State" (IS) (recognized as a terrorist organization). The Migration Service of Armenia is considering their petitions for refugee status.

The Yazidis came to Armenia in July and August and asked for refugee status. Under the law, their applications must be considered within a month, but the term can be extended up to three months, the State Migration Service of Armenia has explained.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in Iraq Yazidis are regularly attacked by radical groupings. Prior to militants' attacks, about 500,000 Yazidis lived in Shingal; then, most of them were forced to leave their homeland. About 450,000 Yazidis found shelter in refugee camps in Syria, Turkey and Kurdistan. Actions demanding to help Iraqi Yazidis were held in Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Georgia.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Author: Tigran Petrosyan

Source: CK correspondent