European regional assessment: Not Applicable (NA)
EU 27 regional assessment: Not Recorded

The species is considered a recent introduction to the Pan Europe region and is Not Applicable for the European Red List.

This species is introduced to the European region, where it occurs in Zhytomyr Region, northern Ukraine (Nekrasova and Kostiushyn 2016).

This species is present in the Caucasus region, where it has been recorded from northeastern Türkiye (Vilayets Trabzon, Ardahan and Kars), northwestern Armenia, western Azerbaijan and southern Georgia. It has been introduced to northern Ukraine. It is found up to 2,500 m asl (Türkiye).

It is common, sometimes numerous species (up to 200 specimens for 1 km of route).

This is a montane species that is found in rocky areas, and high steppes, where lives among herbaceous vegetation. It is sometimes common in ruins and on the walls of buildings. This is a parthenogenic species; three or four eggs are laid in a clutch (Baran and Atatur, 1998) in middle of June - early the July. Large females can to lay second clutches. The incubation period of eggs lasts about 55 days, and the young hatch at the end of July to the beginning of August. Animals emerge after hibernation from the end of March to the beginning of May (in depending on altitude of habitat). It reaches maximum size by about the fourth year.

There are no overall major threats to the species, however some subpopulations are locally threatened by overgrazing of their habitat by domestic livestock (cattle) and the associated habitat destruction. The species is adaptable to some habitat change and populations can be found living on churches and similar old buildings.

This species occurs in a number of national parks and nature reserves (including Khosrov National Park and Sevan Lake National Park [both Armenia]).