according to the Geneva Convention, a person who, owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group, is outside the country of nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country, or a stateless person, who, being outside of the country of former habitual residence for the same reasons as mentioned before, is unable or, owing to such fear, unwilling to return to it, välismaalane, kes põhjendatult kartes tagakiusamist rassi, usu, rahvuse, poliitiliste veendumuste või sotsiaalsesse gruppi kuulumise pärast viibib väljaspool päritoluriiki ega suuda või kartuse tõttu ei taha saada nimetatud riigilt kaitset ning kelle suhtes ei esine pagulasena tunnustamist välistavat asjaolu.