Chechen diaspora protests in Europe over planned German deportation

Activists from the Chechen diaspora have held protests outside German embassies in three European capitals against the planned deportation of an asylum seeker to Russia.

Demonstrators gathered in Vienna, Prague and Helsinki to urge German authorities not to deport Muslim Alkhazov, warning that his life would be in danger if returned.

Human rights activist Roza Dunayeva said Mr Alkhazov's family had faced years of persecution, abductions and torture in Chechnya.

"Muslim Alkhazov's family is among those who have suffered greatly from persecution by the authorities," Ms Dunayeva wrote on social media following the pickets.

Protesters called on the German government to uphold its international human rights obligations and grant protection to refugees fleeing the North Caucasus region.

European nations have drawn increasing criticism from rights groups over the decision to deport refugees back to Russia, where many face severe risks of retaliation and abuse.

On 24 June, Lithuania deported a Chechen native after authorities refused to renew his refugee status, despite the man having lived in the country legally for more than 20 years.

In a separate incident on 23 March, another Chechen asylum seeker was deported to Russia from Estonia after allegedly being denied access to adequate legal representation.