Lithuania deported a Chechen man to Russia after more than 20 years in the country, reportedly defying a European court order
Lithuania has deported a Chechen man to Russia who had lived in the country for more than 20 years, human-rights activist Roza Dunayeva reported. The independent Russian investigative outlet The Insider identified the man as Beslan Estemirov, citing a source in Lithuania’s government.
TL;DR
- Beslan Estemirov, a Chechen man, was deported from Lithuania to Russia after living there for over 20 years.
- Estemirov had fled Chechnya, established a family in Lithuania, and has children who are Lithuanian citizens.
- Lithuanian authorities cited national security as the reason for deportation, the specifics of which are unclear.
- Russia had sought Estemirov's extradition on charges of participating in an illegal armed formation and terrorism.
- Estemirov had been convicted twice on drug-related charges in Lithuania.
- Human-rights activist Roza Dunayeva claims the deportation may have ignored a 2021 ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) prohibiting his extradition to Russia due to the risk of torture.
- Estemirov was reportedly detained in April when attempting to renew his residence permit.