according to an april 2007 report, individuals from afghanistan constitute the largest number of asylum seekers in russia. according to vladimir rucheikov, head of asylum issues in the citizenship department of the federal migration service of russia, afghanis make up over 70% of all submitted applications. additionally, afghans make up the majority of those that actually gain refugee status (as of 2006, 962 afghans have been granted temporary asylum status and 240 afghans have been granted full refugee status). asylum seekers in russia also originate from various african and middle eastern countries.