Almaty: Mahir Safarli has been appointed as the Head of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Regional Representation for Central Asia, APA reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the appointment was announced in an official statement by UNHCR and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan. In his new role, based in Almaty, Safarli will oversee UNHCR's operations in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. He presented his credentials to Kazakhstan's First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Yerzhan Ashikbayev, in Astana, where they discussed priorities for cooperation. In the coming weeks, Safarli plans to engage with governments and partners across the region to enhance support for refugees and stateless individuals.

Safarli brings over 23 years of experience with UNHCR, having held senior leadership roles in Greece, Ukraine, Syria, and Trkiye. His career also includes field, protection, and management roles in Afghanistan, Libya, Ukraine, the Kyrgyz Republic, Liberia, and Azerbaijan, as well as strategic positions at the UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva. In Central Asia, Safarli aims to strengthen protection, improve asylum systems, and address issues of statelessness.

Safarli expressed his commitment to the region, recognizing its diverse cultures and history of supporting refugees. He is eager to collaborate with governments, partners, and communities to enhance asylum systems and promote inclusion. Safarli's academic credentials include master's degrees in law and public administration, a bachelor's degree in political science, and advanced diplomas in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.