Author
In Croatia, there are no official policies implemented with regard to nationals of particular countries, as every application is examined individually and on a case-by-case basis. However, in 2021 Croatia accepted evacuated Afghan nationals and their family members and granted them international protection. A total of 41 Afghan citizens were admitted from August to December 2021, three of whom left the Republic of Croatia to reunite with their families, while the rest were granted asylum.[1] Out of that total number, 16 were children.[2] The CPS reported receiving multiple accounts throughout 2025 regarding pressures placed on applicants for international protection to withdraw their claims. This pressure was often accompanied by inaccurate or misleading information, such as claims that international protection in Croatia is impossible to obtain or threats of prolonged detention. These practices were corroborated by attorneys and legal experts collaborating with CPS, who noted that such pressure ultimately led individuals to withdraw their applications or leave the country. A disproportionately high number of these cases involved citizens of the Russian Federation, particularly those from the North Caucasus region, including Chechnya and Dagestan.[3]
[1] Ombudsperson, Annual report 2021, available in Croatian at: https://bit.ly/3v5TsVi.
[2] Ombudsperson for Children: Report on the work of the Ombudsman for Children in 2021, available in Croatian: https://bit.ly/3KzksTm.
[3] Information provided by the Centre for Peace Studies, 2 March 2026.