The threats of the Croatian authorities to expel Chechen refugees from the country contradict the norms of international law, humanitarian principles and obligations as a member state of the European Union. These were the slogans chanted by the participants of the rally in front of the Croatian embassy in Austria.
As the representative of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in Austria Roza Dunaeva stated, such behavior of the Croatian authorities "discredits European values and creates a dangerous precedent that threatens the safety of refugees in the EU."
Earlier, many refugees from Chechnya reported cruel treatment by employees of the deportation camp, where they were often unjustifiably placed on suspicion of extremism. In protest, the Chechens went on hunger strike.
Last year, the human rights organization Amnesty International called on EU countries not to extradite refugees from the North Caucasus to Russia. They noted that the authorities of European countries should stop deporting refugees and asylum seekers from the North Caucasus Federal District to the Russian Federation, since they face torture and forced incorporation into the Russian army to participate in the war against Ukraine in their homeland.
