Ten natives of Chechnya deported from Croatia

Croatian authorities have deported to Bosnia ten natives of Chechnya who had asked for international protection; two others were the granted refugee status, the "Assembly of European Chechens" has informed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in April a court in Croatia refused to grant international protection and the status of political refugees to five natives of Chechnya, motivating the refusal by stating that they could be "Islamic extremists." Six natives of Chechnya went on a hunger strike at a deportation centre. On May 9, the hunger strike was suspended due to the absence of authorities' response and the deterioration of the refugees' health condition.

Out of 15 natives of Chechnya, who had arrived in the deportation centre in Croatia, only one remained there; others refused to apply for international protection in Croatia and were deported, said Isa Daduev, an activist of the above "Assembly of European Chechens".

According to his story, the native of Chechnya, who stayed at the centre, was awaiting deportation to Bulgaria. Isa Daduev has also stressed that it was important for the detainees to defend their rights and convince the authorities that they were not extremists, the "Kavkaz.Realii"* project has reported.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.