Montenegro

Since February 2022, when the situation escalated in Ukraine, over 171,000 Ukrainians entered Montenegro. By the end of September 2023, nearly 62,000 Ukrainians registered some legal status in the country, a staggering 10% of Montenegro’s population. UNHCR cooperates closely with the Government of Montenegro and partners to assist those people in need and provide protection and assistance.

Until September 2023, UNHCR has been assisting nearly 7,000 asylum seekers, refugees and persons at risk of statelessness in Montenegro. This number includes over 6,000 Ukrainians under the Temporary Protection regime, and over 500 persons at risk of statelessness. In regards to asylum, most persons of concern were coming from Russia, Türkiye, Cuba, Afghanistan, Morocco and Iran.

UNHCR’s work in Montenegro focuses on supporting the country in providing access to rights for Ukrainian Temporary Protection holders, building the asylum system (reception, asylum procedure and integration), preventing and eradicating statelessness and providing legal support to refugees from former Yugoslavia with unresolved legal status.