French court cancels extradition of native of Chechnya

Imran Albakov, a native of Chechnya, who was facing extradition to Russia from France, will be released, the court has agreed with a threat to his life and health in his homeland, Abubakar Yangulbaev, a lawyer, has informed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Imran Albakov and his brother Islam were detained in 2018 in France. The court acquitted them, after which Islam went to join his family in Belgium, where he was again detained in February 2019. On January 9, 2024, human rights defenders reported that Islam Albakov's health condition in the deportation prison where he is kept had deteriorated greatly, he is almost blind.

The Albakovs were wanted by the Interpol because in Russia they were accused of participating in an illegal armed formation (IAF). Islam is still in the deportation prison without seeing charges or sentence.

The Court of Appeal in Lyon has overturned the decision to extradite Imran Albakov to Russia. The extradition process of a native of Chechnya has been stopped, and he should be released, Abubakar Yangulbaev wrote in his Telegram channel.

The court has followed the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), recognizing that in Russia there is a threat to Imran's life and health.