Austria's new law on asylum seekers movement designed for fair distribution among states: interior ministry

VIENNA, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The recently passed new laws to restrict the movement of asylum seekers in Austria was designed for a fair distribution among the country's states, said the interior ministry on Thursday.

The amendments to the existing laws, passed in parliament two weeks ago, stipulate fines of up to 5,000 euros (5,700 U.S. dollars) and potential imprisonment for up to three weeks for asylum seekers who choose to move from their designated state.

The fines are to start at 100 euros (114 U.S. dollars) for an initial offense, and up to the maximum stipulated by the laws upon a repeat offence.

The new laws will come into effect in November.