Chechen diaspora activists held a rally in Vienna in support of refugees.
Participants in the Vienna rally called on Finnish authorities to treat refugees from the North Caucasus impartially and not to extradite them to Russia, where they face torture and political persecution.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," authorities in European countries periodically make decisions to deport refugees from the North Caucasus seeking asylum in Europe to Russia. For example, on June 24, it was reported that Lithuanian authorities deported a native of Chechnya after denying him an extension of his refugee status, despite the fact that he had legally resided in the country for over 20 years.
A rally by Chechen diaspora activists took place in Vienna on June 26 in front of the Finnish Embassy. They called on Finnish authorities to pay attention to the worsening situation of refugees from the North Caucasus seeking asylum. Many of them face the risk of losing international protection and being deported to Russia, said human rights activist Roza Dunaeva.
The protesters also called on Finnish authorities to make asylum decisions solely on the basis of international law, humanitarian principles, and Finland's international obligations, without any political influence from the Russian authorities, the human rights activist wrote on her Facebook page* on June 26.
Systematic human rights violations remain a pressing issue in the North Caucasus republics, including political persecution, unjustified detentions, torture, kidnappings, and pressure on activists, she noted.
The "Caucasian Knot" also reported that on March 23 it became known that a Chechen national seeking protection in Estonia did not receive adequate legal assistance and was deported to Russia. The man had reason to fear for his life, human rights activists noted.
Caucasian Knot posts materials about human rights violations in Chechnya, Kadyrov's attacks on the opposition, and his fight against dissent in the republic on a special thematic page "Dissent in Chechnya".