Rights defenders treat Saduev's stay in Chechnya as dangerous

Ilyas Saduev, deported from France to Russia, has been handed over to Chechen law enforcers, said his female relative. In Chechnya, Saduev's life and health are in danger, rights defenders believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 8, human rights defenders spoke against the deportation of the 29-year-old Saduev from France to Russia. In his homeland, Saduev is under threat of repressions, they assert. But on March 14, Saduev's relatives reported that he had been nevertheless deported to Russia.

Saduev has been handed over to Chechen law enforcers, his female relative told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on condition of anonymity. "There is no official information yet, but we managed to find out that Ilyas had been taken to Chechnya. They didn't even allow him to contact us," she said.

Svetlana Gannushkina, the head of the "Civil Assistance" Committee*, treats Saduev's deportation as a big mistake. "His case was considered in France; they knew about his problems in Chechnya, but in the end, in spite of everything, they decided to deport him to Chechnya ... We all understand what they can do with him there. They tortured him before his departure, and, possibly, will torture him now," Ms Gannushkina she told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

She believes that the public outcry and human rights defenders' attention can protect Saduev. "We need to write and talk about him, perhaps it will help," she said.

*The organization has been put, by decision of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, on the register of NGOs performing the functions of a foreign agent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 15, 2021 at 08:28 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.