Migration routes completely turned away from Slovakia

Migration routes through which refugees travel to western Europe are no longer going through Slovakia and thus refugees are not illegally crossing Slovakia's southern border with Hungary, announced Slovak Border and Foreign Police Office director Ludovit Biro on Tuesday.

"The drop in the movement of migrants entering Slovakia is due to Hungary's tightening of legislation and closing its southern borders. The number of refugees intercepted at the Slovak-Hungarian border has been decreasing ever since," explained Biro.

According to Biro, the situation in Slovakia shouldn't change in the foreseeable future. Even though Germany also tightened its laws and declared that it has started to transfer migrants, which haven't been assigned asylum.

"So far, there hasn't been a scenario of some of those rejected asylum seekers from Germany showing any interest in coming to Slovakia," stated Biro, adding, however, that it can't be ruled out in the future.

Slovakia's status as a purely transit country continues to be affirmed. Slovak Interior Ministry Migration Office deputy-director Ivan Slezak said that only 146 persons had been granted international protection in Slovakia as of October 13.

"Asylum has been granted to seven persons and 40 people were provided subsidiary protection," pointed out Slezak. These refugees came mainly from Afghanistan, Iraq and Ukraine. Endit