Chechen refugees held an action of protest in Strasbourg

Chechen refugees who arrive in Europe come across a number of problems often connected with specific features of European laws and in such situations they are most of all afraid of deportation to Russia. Therefore by holding an action of protest on October, 6, in Strasbourg these people wished to draw public attention to their problems, Helena Gabrelyan, journalist of French radio RFI said to a reporter of "Caucasian Knot".

"Give us our right-to-life!" - that was the slogan of hundreds of Chechen refugees and members of human rights organizations at their manifestation in front of the building of Council of Europe in Strasbourg. They appealed to the French authorities demanding to consider the Chechens' requests for a political asylum and provide them with normal living conditions.

"Already for several months Chechen refugees have been trying to find a solution of their problem in Strasbourg. Problems start from the moment when the Chechens cross the border of EU in Poland and submit a dossier for getting a political asylum but they complain they do not feel safe there. When they do not get the refugee status they run a risk of being deported back to Russia, Chechnya. That is why they have come to France with a new request", Helena Gabrelyan told a reporter of "Caucasian Knot".

She says that these people are refused consideration of their documents with a reference to the Dublin Convention. "France can accept the documents for granting the refugee status only in case if the Chechens manage to stay in France over six months. But even then they may be arrested and again run the risk of deportation. This is the reason why the Chechens complain they do not feel safe and appeal to human rights activists and human rights organizations, such as CIMAD, CASAS which help the refugees to prepare their documents and settle for dwelling", Helena Gabrelyan says.

She emphasizes that the police patrol in the neighborhood of the offices of human rights organizations the Chechens attend. "Two women were arrested recently. This had become the cause of the latest manifestation, another one with similar protests had been held several months before. With the support of volunteer public associations the Chechens arrange manifestations demanding to consider their documents in France and provide them with normal living conditions. Many of them spend their nights just in the streets or in hotels, sometimes in quite unbearable conditions. I have seen it with my own eyes when I went to see them", the French journalist said.