The Austrian government plans to create a new route for the deportation of Afghan refugees by signing an agreement with Uzbekistan. According to Austrian media reports, this agreement is set to be signed on May 7th, coinciding with the visit of Austria’s interior and foreign ministers to Uzbekistan.
Austrian newspaper “Die Presse” reported on Wednesday that the main objective of this agreement is to transfer Afghan refugees to Uzbekistan and then deport them to Afghanistan. This plan is part of new measures within Austria’s immigration policies.
Earlier, on April 8th, the Austrian cabinet had approved the plan regarding the agreement with Uzbekistan. This decision follows internal discussions about how to manage and return refugees.
Gerhard Karner, Austria’s interior minister, described this move as part of the country’s strict asylum policies. He emphasized that Austria will take further practical steps to increase the deportation process with the implementation of this agreement.
Reports indicate that Austria has deported several Afghan citizens from the country since last year, a process that may expand with the implementation of the new agreement.
