FIRST CITIZENSHIP REQUEST EVER SUBMITTED FOR A REFUGEE IN SERBIA

In July 2019, Klikaktiv's lawyer submitted the citizenship request on behalf of A.O. as the first citizenship request ever submitted for a refugee in Serbia. So far none of the refugees ever submitted a citizenship request in Serbia mostly because none of them stayed in Serbia longer than 5-years of refugee status. A.O. is the first refugee who stayed in Serbia long enough to apply for citizenship since he was granted asylum more than six years ago. Over the past year, he tried to find a free legal provider that would represent him in this case. He was rejected both by the local NGOs and private attorneys.   

Klikaktiv submitted a citizenship request on his behalf with all the reasoning and proof as to why A.O. should be granted Serbian citizenship, including a UNHCR recommendation and an official opinion from the Council of Europe, both stating that refugees should be granted citizenship five years after they have been granted refugee status. 

A citizenship request has been submitted in July and it has not been decided upon it to this day. On several occasions, the Ministry of Interior requested A.O. to deliver them documents from his country of origin despite the fact that Klikaktiv's lawyer each time replied and explained why is this not possible. Despite the fact that the Ministry should decide on the citizenship request within two month period, there is still no official decision upon A.O.'s request.  

In the meanwhile, Klikaktiv was contacted by two more persons who have been granted refugee status almost 5 years ago and who wanted to get more information on the citizenship procedure. They want to apply for citizenship but they were also rejected by other free legal providers.