Greece stops processing all asylum applications from Syrian citizens

MADRID Dec. 11 () –

The Government of Greece reported this Wednesday that it has also suspended all procedures for asylum applications submitted by Syrian citizens now that the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad has fallen, a measure previously adopted by others. European countries.

The Greek Minister of Migration, Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, has indicated that this is a “temporary freeze” of these procedures as “new information is evaluated” about the transitional government of Syria and the future of the country, according to several media outlets. of communication.

Greece, the main entry point for thousands of Syrian refugees trying to reach Europe, has been the last country to confirm that the procedures are suspended, a decision previously made by countries such as Italy, Germany, France, Austria, the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Nordic countries.

Previously, sources close to the Government had indicated that Athens planned to suspend the procedures, which would affect some 9,000 asylum applications, although the Government had not made an official statement until now.

The offensive in Syria, launched on November 27 from the province of Idlib and led by the Syrian group Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), has allowed jihadists and rebels to take the capital, Damascus, and put an end to the Al family regime Assad, in power since 1971, faced with a constant withdrawal of government troops, backed by Russia and Iran.