Asylum appeals in Cyprus skyrocket to 472%

A dramatic increase of 472% in appeals before the Administrative Court of International Protection by asylum seekers and foreigners has been reported between 2020 and 2023, according to data released by the Law Office. In contrast, there was a 9% decrease in new appeals from 2022 to 2023.

Figures made available on Friday reveal that a substantial 76.53% of appeals registered in 2023 involved applicants from countries considered safe. The Law Office attributes its efforts to managing the surge in cases against the Republic in the face of heightened migration flows.

The Law Office, responsible for representing and defending competent authorities such as the Ministry of the Interior, the Asylum Service, and the Civil Registry and Migration Department, handles appeals against the Republic registered by foreigners and asylum seekers.

In 2023 alone, the Law Office dealt with a total of 10,001 new cases across various courts in Cyprus, including the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the Administrative Court, and the Administrative Court of International Protection. Specifically, 8,377 cases were related to asylum seekers, while 1,230 pertained to appeals from foreigners received by the Administrative Court.

The data shows that out of 9,818 cases processed in 2023 by the Administrative Court of International Protection, only 45 resulted in a successful outcome, representing a success rate of 0.46%.

Furthermore, the figures underscore that 76.53% of appeals before the Administrative Court of International Protection involved applicants from safe countries. Notably, applicants from these countries decreased by 8.14% compared to 2022, while those from non-safe countries increased by 7.09%.

Appeals concerning foreigners accounted for 65.25% of all appeals received in 2023, with 71% of the Administrative Court's decisions in favor of the Republic and 29% against. These statistics shed light on the intricate legal landscape and challenges surrounding migration-related cases in Cyprus.