Czech Republic Tightens Protection Rules for Ukrainians Liable for Military Service
Men of military age will in future have to prove when submitting new applications that they have fulfilled their military obligations or were legally permitted to leave Ukraine
Foto: Daniele Franchi | Unsplash
The Czech Republic is tightening the rules for new applications for temporary protection from Ukrainian citizens. Those liable for military service will in future have to prove that they have fulfilled their military obligations or were legally permitted to leave Ukraine.
The Czech Republic has tightened the conditions for granting temporary protection to Ukrainian citizens. The changes affect people who are subject to military obligations under Ukrainian law and who cannot provide proof when applying that they have fulfilled them or received official permission to leave the country.
The new regulation applies exclusively to new applications. The almost 400,000 Ukrainian refugees who already hold temporary protection status in the Czech Republic are not affected by the change.
The new requirements are based on a decision by the European Union. At the same time, temporary protection for people from Ukraine has been extended until March 2028. The status provides access to the Czech labour market, the public healthcare system and education, among other things.
According to the European Commission, the Ukrainian government had also called for stricter requirements. Kyiv has reportedly been demanding for some time that EU countries should not grant temporary protection to people who are not legally permitted to leave Ukraine because of their military obligations.
Interior Ministry Welcomes Tougher Rules
The Czech Interior Ministry described the new regulation as a significant step. Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar said the government had been pushing for such a change for some time.
According to earlier information from the ministry, around 6,000 people currently arrive in the Czech Republic from Ukraine each month. More than 394,000 Ukrainian refugees live in the country in total. Relative to its population, the Czech Republic therefore continues to host the highest number of people seeking protection from Ukraine within the European Union.
Since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression, women initially made up the majority of newly arriving Ukrainians. However, the ratio has since changed. Men currently account for 51.7 per cent of newly arrived people from Ukraine, according to the Czech Interior Ministry’s migration report published in July.
The increase was particularly marked among men aged between 18 and 34. The report cites a decision by the Ukrainian government in August last year as one reason. Since then, men aged between 18 and 22 have also been permitted to leave the country, as they are not yet subject to general conscription in Ukraine.
Current information on the new requirement for granting temporary protection and on its extension will be published gradually on the Information Portal for Foreigners.
