UK protesters oppose extradition of Chechen woman

The European Union (EU) must prevent the transfer to Russia of Amina Gerikhanova, a native of Chechnya, who had lived in Ukraine and was detained by Romanian authorities while crossing the border. This was stated at the action by members of the Chechen Diaspora in the United Kingdom (UK).

The Chechen oppositional blogger, Abdul-Malik, has reported that a picket was held outside the Romanian consulate in Edinburgh in Gerikhanova's support. Six members of the local Chechen Diaspora have called on the EU not to extradite her to Russia and to achieve the exclusion of Russia from the Interpol system, the "Kavkaz.Realii"* reported with reference to the blogger.

Amina Gerikhanova, 36, was detained with her son on March 13 while trying to leave Ukraine; she was arrested, and her son was placed in an orphanage, from where he was later taken by a relative. The Interpol is searching for Gerikhanova at Russia's request; she is accused of taking part in hostilities in Syria.

The "Caucasian Knot" has also reported that in July the "Vayfond" Association announced that Swedish authorities were preparing to deport a native of Chechnya to Russia, after denying him the refugee status despite his allegations of torture by Chechen law enforcers.

In February, the Assembly of European Chechens announced the death of Daud Muradov, who had been deported to Chechnya from France. The Assembly recalled that the deportation of Chechens is on stream, and called on the French authorities to protect emigrants' rights.

As noted by Pascal Chaudot, the head of the "Chechen Committee" in France, mass deportation was stopped only with the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine.