A native of Chechnya was deported from Lithuania.
Lithuanian authorities deported a Chechen native after denying him an extension of his refugee status, despite having legally resided in the country for over 20 years.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on April 17, it became known that Lithuanian officials denied an extension of refugee status for a Chechen native who had legally resided in the country for over 20 years. The man was warned that he faced deportation.
Lithuanian authorities deported a native of Chechnya to Russia. He fled the war 20 years ago and lived in Lithuania since then, where he built a family and raised children who are Lithuanian citizens, reported human rights activist Roza Dunayeva.
The deportation of the Chechen refugee, who lived in Lithuania for nearly 20 years, raises serious concerns about Lithuania's commitment to its international human rights obligations. For two decades, he lived with the belief that Lithuania is a country that respects human rights, the rule of law, and the principle of protecting those facing persecution, she noted tonight on her Facebook page*.
Particularly troubling is the fact that the case of the refugee from Chechnya concerned legal protection measures related to the proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), based on the risk of persecution, ill-treatment, and threats to his life if returned to Russia, the human rights activist added.
As a reminder, Dunaeva previously reported that a native of Chechnya named Beslan, whose full details are not being disclosed by human rights activists, participated in battles against federal forces in his homeland. Until recently, he had refugee status in Lithuania. Many members of Beslan's family were killed, and the survivors were persecuted and are now "scattered all over the world," the human rights activist noted.
Beslan lived in Lithuania longer than he lived in Chechnya. Earlier, when he came to renew his documents, his status was revoked. He was denied an extension of asylum and told, "You will be deported," Dunaeva said.
At the end of March, Roza Dunaeva reported that a Chechen man seeking protection in Estonia was denied adequate legal assistance. He was also deported to Russia.
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