. Identification re ention and reduction o state essness statelessness status will be granted the right to stay in Moldova during the review of their claim and can only be removed from the territory for reasons of national security and public order. In practice, the burden of establishing statelessness is shared. Applicants are obliged to co-operate fully with the authorities by submitting all evidence regarding their status and by presenting themselves to the authorities for as many interviews as may be required. The examiner is obliged to collect additional information about an applicant’s case, including through contacts with foreign authorities or with Moldovan embassies and consulates abroad. A decision accepting or rejecting an application for statelessness status must be issued and communicated to the concerned individual within three working days after the application is made. Reasons for negative decisions must be communicated to the applicant and an appeal can be lodged against a negative decision in a court of law, in accordance with Moldovan legal procedures. Individuals with recognized statelessness status will be given appropriate identity documents and will be entitled to enjoy all the rights, freedoms and obligations stipulated by Moldovan legislation. They can also benefit from dedicated social integration activities offered by the Ministry of Culture, and language classes offered to foreigners by the Ministry of Education – all free of charge. Between 2011, when the statelessness determination procedure was established, and December 2015, 617 persons applied for statelessness status in Moldova and 256 persons had it granted. It is noteworthy that among the 261 individuals rejected, a significant number were eligible to apply for Moldovan citizenship and were directed to the appropriate government institution. The outcome was the granting of Moldovan citizenship to many persons of undetermined nationality. See UNHCR, Good Practices Paper – Action 6: Establishing Statelessness Determination Procedures to Protect Stateless Persons, 2016, available at: http://www. refworld.org/docid/57836cff4.html 50