France may deport a native of Chechnya to Russia

A court in France may consider the issue of deporting Sheikh-Akhmed Musaitov, a native of Chechnya, to the Russian Federation. On May 26, he was arrested and taken to a deportation center. His father Shaikhi Musaitov served as adviser to the President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Aslan Maskhadov.

In 2012, Sheikh-Akhmed Musaitov received refugee status in France, but lost it in 2019. The Directorate General for Foreigners in France (DGEF) announced that Musaitov’s stay in the country was undesirable due to possible connections with religious radicals. He actively participated in the activities of the Assembly of Chechens of Europe.

In September 2021, the National Criminal Court overturned the decision of the Office of Foreigners. However, the State Council in March 2023 overturned the decision of the National Court. If the deportation is confirmed, human rights activists intend to appeal the decision to the National Court, and then to the European Court of Human Rights.

In the Russian Federation, Musaitov faces torture and imprisonment.

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