Concerns over the fate of a Chechen expelled from France
As soon as he arrived on Russian territory, Gadaev was arrested by the police (illustrative image).
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The expulsion from France to Russia of Chechen Magomed Gadaev, presented as an opponent of the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, raised serious concerns on Monday among associations that support him and now fear for his life.
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Magomed Gadaev, 36, had lived in France for 10 years.
Unsuccessful of his asylum requests, this man presented as an opponent of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov was expelled on Friday despite an opinion from the National Court of Asylum (CNDA) dated March 10, which affirmed that an expulsion to Russia was against international law.
Sunday April 11, while they were in an apartment in the custody of police, Magomed Gadaev and his lawyer were invited by the Russian police to go "
to an investigative body to complete formalities
",
says on its website, the NGO Amnesty International
.
During this transfer, Magomed Gadaev was taken in by members of the Chechen security services, Jean-François Dubost, head of the Population Protection program at Amnesty International, told RFI.
“
According to our contacts there, it is still quite clear that all this was done with the consent of the Russian police
.
The Russian police officers were present during this transfer and once the lawyer went to the police station where he was to meet his client to carry out the procedures, the police officers told him that they had absolutely no information. convey to him about Mr. Gadaev.
"
Fears
This Monday, his supporters say they have no more news from him and fear for his safety.
"
I'm afraid that he will never come back
," said AFP his lawyer, Me Arnaud Toulouse, who points out the risks incurred by his client, a former "
Chechen revolutionary
" already "
detained for several weeks in Russia
" by the past.
The lawyer recalled that Mr. Gadaev was a witness in legal proceedings concerning “
inhuman and degrading treatment
” involving Chechen officials during secret detentions.
Amnesty International, for its part, maintains contact with the Russian authorities, asking them to ensure her protection.
It also asks the French authorities to react by approaching the Russian authorities to ensure the safety of Magomed Gadaev.
"
We continue to ask for the repatriation of Mr. Gadaev on French soil since he should never have left him,
" continues Jean-François Dubost.
File "S" by the French authorities
For its part, the French Interior Ministry stressed that the Chechen "
is known for his long-standing links with the Islamist movement and international jihad
".
Since 2013, he had been listed "S" - for risk of attacking State security - by the French authorities.
"
He was also condemned, in Belgium and in France, for acts of aggravated violence
", specified the Ministry of the Interior about this man, who had fled Russia in 2010 for Poland, which granted him in 2011 refugee status, before withdrawing it a few years later.
As soon as he arrived in France on September 21, 2012, Magomed Gadaev tried to obtain refugee status, in vain.
For several months, the authorities had sought to deport him to Poland, which refused his readmission.
Mr. Gadaev, a Chechen refugee, was deported from France to Russia, a country where he is risking his life.
This decision is inhuman and above all ILLEGAL because the French justice has prohibited his dismissal on three occasions. @ EmmanuelMacron we demand his IMMEDIATE repatriation!
pic.twitter.com/u8syaRgIc1
- Amnesty France (@amnestyfrance) April 10, 2021
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