Lithuanian authorities deported to Russia a native of Chechnya whose refugee status had not been extended. According to rights defender Roza Dunaeva, the man had lived in Lithuania for more than 20 years and had openly spoken out against the Russian authorities.
She said the deported man is named Beslan, though his surname is being withheld for security reasons. About 21 years ago, he fled Chechnya to escape the war and has since lived in Lithuania longer than he lived in his homeland. There he received international protection, started a family, and resided in the country legally.
Dunaeva said Beslan was detained in April when he went to the Interior Ministry to renew his residence permit. After that, the Lithuanian authorities refused to extend his refugee status and launched deportation proceedings.
According to the rights defender, Beslan had taken part in fighting against federal forces in Chechnya. She says many of his relatives were killed, while those who survived were persecuted and are now scattered across different countries.
Dunaeva said a particularly alarming aspect is that Beslan’s case concerned legal protection measures connected to proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights. He himself had warned that if returned to Russia, he faced persecution and a threat to his life.
“We call on the Lithuanian authorities to reconsider this practice, fully comply with their international obligations, and ensure that no one is returned to a place where they face persecution, imprisonment, torture, or death. Justice, humanity, and the rule of law must prevail,” Roza Dunaeva said.
Dunaeva also said that two other natives of Chechnya had previously been deported from Lithuania. At the same time, she claims that in December of last year, Lithuanian officials publicly assured the Chechen diaspora that people from Chechnya would not be handed over to Russia.
She also recalled that in March, Estonian authorities deported a Chechen man who had sought asylum. According to Dunaeva, he had spent many months trying to prove that his life would be at risk if he were returned.