Rights defenders claim threat of torture for the Chechen detained in Moscow

Idris Arsamikov, who left Chechnya after persecutions because of his homosexuality, was detained at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport upon arrival from the Netherlands, and then handed over to Chechen law enforcers.

According to human rights defenders, the 28-year-old Arsamikov has flown to Russia, intending to visit his father's funeral in Chechnya. He had left Chechnya after being detained, beaten up and tortured in the summer of 2018.

Policemen explained his detention by "problems in Chechnya" and told him that Chechen law enforcers were coming for him, the SK SOS Crisis Group reported in its Telegram channel.

The advocate sent to Domodedovo was not allowed to meet the detainee. Law enforcers have explained his detention by some criminal case on an especially large fraud.

Arsamikov tried to declare that he would be tortured, but a policeman at Domodedovo, when speaking to the advocate, refused to accept this application.

"Supposedly, now Arsamikov is being convoyed to Chechnya, where he is in mortal danger," human rights defenders have noted.

When Idris was in Domodedovo, he needed doctors' help because of a panic attack.