ECtHR recommends French authorities not to extradite Chechen resident to Russia

France will violate the rights of a resident of Chechnya, whom Russia requests to extradite, if it agrees to deport him to his homeland. This was stated by the decision pronounced by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

The ECtHR's decision was issued on July 9. The ECtHR has found out that the return of a resident of Chechnya to their homeland will violate Article 3 (prohibition of torture and inhuman and degrading treatment) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

According to the ECtHR's records, the complainant lived in Grozny, when the Chechen law enforcement agencies suspected him of rendering assistance to his relatives allegedly involved in attacks on law enforcers in the territory of Chechnya. In 2003, the complainant was arrested and interrogated. According to him, policemen were beating him during the interrogation.

In the summer of 2004, the complainant left Chechnya. In November 2006, he arrived in France, where in June 2007, he asked for asylum; however, the French authorities dismissed his request.

In October 2011, the complainant appealed to the ECtHR and stated that his extradition would expose him to the risk of ill-treatment.

The ECtHR has considered his appeal, pronounced the decision on interim measures and addressed the French authorities with a recommendation not to extradite the complainant to his homeland during the period of the trial at the Strasbourg court.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.