Any asylum seeker who commits a crime will have their subsidiary protection status revoked, Deputy Minister of Migration Nicholas Ioannides announced on Thursday.

His statements were made after a Cabinet session in which a bill amending the law on refugees was approved.

Ioannides stressed this was compatible with EU legislation. “We provide hospitality and international protection in accordance with our international obligations, however, when this hospitality is abused, then in addition to criminal sanctions there is also the consequence of the subsidiary protection revocation.”

He clarified that the amending bill concerns criminal offences committed in the Republic of Cyprus, adding that holders of refugee and subsidiary protection status are subject to the same laws as citizens of the Republic of Cyprus.

“In case they commit serious criminal offences, then their status is revoked. They cease to have international protection.”

Commenting on the possibility of repatriation, Ioannides said that individuals with subsidiary protection come from countries at which where they are at risk.

“Therefore, we cannot repatriate them, however there is the possibility, upon agreement with third countries, that they will accept them or, if the conditions in their country of origin have changed, then we can repatriate them, as long as they are not in danger.”

Ioannides said the government has “come to an agreement with some countries and by tomorrow we will have developments, the matter will be closed.”