Interior: No Syrian refugees in detention centers for illegal migrants

Belarus' Ministry of Interior has commented on the plans to open detention centers for illegal migrants to be funded by a 7-million-euros grant from the European Union.

According to Ministry of Interior's press office, funds will be allocated as part of the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) on the grounds of the agreement to be signed by the Ministry of Interior, the European Commission and the Office of International Organization for Migration in BelarusThe draft agreement has already been reviewed by the Belarusian side. The project will focus on setting up illegal migrant holding facilities. It should be noted that these centers will be only for illegal migrants detained inside the country. Syrians or other refugees from the EU will not be hold there,” the Interior Ministry stressed.

Euroradio reported earlier, on January 13 media reports suggested the European Commission was to give 7 million euros to build detention centers for illegal migrants. The news was first reported by German media. It was later confirmed by Belarus' Foreign Ministry.