Murat Gasaev (also transliterated as Murad Gasayev), was a Russian refugee in Spain. An ethnic Chechen from the Republic of Ingushetia, he was extradited to Russia in December 2008 despite protests by human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. It was feared that Gasaev might be at risk of torture and ill-treatment, as well as the denial of a fair trial due to the potential use of evidence extracted under torture in Russia.[1][2]
The Russia's extradition request appeared to have been based on statements by a prisoner in Russian custody who accused Gasaev of being a participant in the events of June 2004 (the 2004 Nazran raid on government buildings in Ingushetia) while under interrogation by the Federal Security Service (FSB). That detainee, Idris Matiev, later retracted his statement, alleging that he had been subjected to beatings, torture with electric shocks and threats against his family.[2] Gasaev has claimed that he was detained in Ingushetia in August 2004 by five masked officers, who took him to the central office of the FSB in Ingushetia, where he was tortured and questioned about the attack. He was not charged and was released after three days of torture.[1]
Gasaev fled Russia and eventually sought refuge in Spain in 2005. However, his claim of asylum was rejected on the basis of "confidential information provided by the Spanish authorities."[3] In December 2006, he was arrested as a suspected "militant" by the Spanish authorities in Valencia at the request of Russia.[4] The Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture is not known to have been consulted about the "diplomatic assurances" given by the Russian public prosecutor until after the Spanish court had approved the extradition request.[1] According to experts, "with or without guarantees, a Chechen who is accused of killing police officers does not stay alive for long in a Russian prison."[5]
On December 31, 2008, Gasaev was sent to Russia without any anti-torture guarantees in the first such extradition from a European country.[6] Amnesty International said the extradition violated Spain's obligations under international human rights law, including the United Nations Convention Against Torture.[1]
On June 30, 2009, the senior Russian investigator in charge of the case ruled that all charges should be dropped against Gasayev, whose alibi was corroborated by five witnesses. He was freed on August 28, after 10 months in detention in Russia. "It’s a great relief that Gasayev is out of detention, but he should never have been there in the first place," Tanya Lokshina, HRW's deputy Moscow director said.[7]
References
^ abcdDocument - Spain: Fear of forcible return/Fear of torture or other ill-treatment: Murad Gasayev (m), Amnesty International, 11 December 2008
^ abSpain: Halt Extradition to Russia Spain: Halt Extradition to Russia, Human Rights Watch, December 16, 2008 (UNHCR)
^Spain Prepares To Extradite Chechen To Russia, Radio Free Europe, December 15, 2008
Chechen Committee for National Salvation asks Spanish authorities not to deport Ingushetian refugee to Russia[permanent dead link], Memorial, 22/3/2008
Ingushes of Germany ask Spain not to extradite refugee Gasaev to Russia[permanent dead link], Memorial, 5/4/2008
Letter to the Spanish government regarding the extradition of Murat Ajmedovich Gasayev, Human Rights Watch, May 12, 2008 (also in Spanish 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine and Russian 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine)
Spain approves Chechen's extradition, Associated Press, December 12, 2008
Human rights activists of Ingushetia protest against Murad Gasaev's extradition[permanent dead link], Memorial, 19/12/2008
(in Spanish) Carta al gobierno español sobre la extradición de Murat Ajmedovich Gasayev, Human Rights Watch, May 7, 2008
(in Spanish) El proceso de extradición de Murat Gasayev a la Federación Rusa 2008-12-11 at the Wayback Machine, Amnesty International, October 8, 2008
(in Spanish) España extradita a Rusia a un checheno que pidió asilo por torturas, El País, 13/12/2008
(in Spanish) España: Detener extradición a Rusia; Sospechoso checheno en riesgo de sufrir tortura, Human Rights Watch, December 16, 2008
January 07, 2023
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Murat Gasaev also transliterated as Murad Gasayev was a Russian refugee in Spain An ethnic Chechen from the Republic of Ingushetia he was extradited to Russia in December 2008 despite protests by human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch It was feared that Gasaev might be at risk of torture and ill treatment as well as the denial of a fair trial due to the potential use of evidence extracted under torture in Russia 1 2 The Russia s extradition request appeared to have been based on statements by a prisoner in Russian custody who accused Gasaev of being a participant in the events of June 2004 the 2004 Nazran raid on government buildings in Ingushetia while under interrogation by the Federal Security Service FSB That detainee Idris Matiev later retracted his statement alleging that he had been subjected to beatings torture with electric shocks and threats against his family 2 Gasaev has claimed that he was detained in Ingushetia in August 2004 by five masked officers who took him to the central office of the FSB in Ingushetia where he was tortured and questioned about the attack He was not charged and was released after three days of torture 1 Gasaev fled Russia and eventually sought refuge in Spain in 2005 However his claim of asylum was rejected on the basis of confidential information provided by the Spanish authorities 3 In December 2006 he was arrested as a suspected militant by the Spanish authorities in Valencia at the request of Russia 4 The Council of Europe s Committee for the Prevention of Torture is not known to have been consulted about the diplomatic assurances given by the Russian public prosecutor until after the Spanish court had approved the extradition request 1 According to experts with or without guarantees a Chechen who is accused of killing police officers does not stay alive for long in a Russian prison 5 On December 31 2008 Gasaev was sent to Russia without any anti torture guarantees in the first such extradition from a European country 6 Amnesty International said the extradition violated Spain s obligations under international human rights law including the United Nations Convention Against Torture 1 On June 30 2009 the senior Russian investigator in charge of the case ruled that all charges should be dropped against Gasayev whose alibi was corroborated by five witnesses He was freed on August 28 after 10 months in detention in Russia It s a great relief that Gasayev is out of detention but he should never have been there in the first place Tanya Lokshina HRW s deputy Moscow director said 7 References Edit a b c d Document Spain Fear of forcible return Fear of torture or other ill treatment Murad Gasayev m Amnesty International 11 December 2008 a b Spain Halt Extradition to Russia Spain Halt Extradition to Russia Human Rights Watch December 16 2008 UNHCR Spain Prepares To Extradite Chechen To Russia Radio Free Europe December 15 2008 Chechen Militant Caught in Spain Archived 2011 06 06 at the Wayback Machine Kommersant Dec 05 2006 in French La justice francaise refuse d extrader vers la Russie un demandeur d asile tchetchene Le Monde 05 03 09 Spain sends militant to Russia BBC News 31 December 2008 Russia Extradited Chechen Terrorism Suspect Freed Human Rights Watch September 1 2009External links EditSpain Holds Out Extradition Promises to Russia Kommersant June 21 2007 Chechen Committee for National Salvation asks Spanish authorities not to deport Ingushetian refugee to Russia permanent dead link Memorial 22 3 2008 Ingushes of Germany ask Spain not to extradite refugee Gasaev to Russia permanent dead link Memorial 5 4 2008 Letter to the Spanish government regarding the extradition of Murat Ajmedovich Gasayev Human Rights Watch May 12 2008 also in Spanish Archived 2016 03 05 at the Wayback Machine and Russian Archived 2016 03 05 at the Wayback Machine Spain approves Chechen s extradition Associated Press December 12 2008 Human rights activists of Ingushetia protest against Murad Gasaev s extradition permanent dead link Memorial 19 12 2008 in Spanish Carta al gobierno espanol sobre la extradicion de Murat Ajmedovich Gasayev Human Rights Watch May 7 2008 in Spanish El proceso de extradicion de Murat Gasayev a la Federacion Rusa Archived 2008 12 11 at the Wayback Machine Amnesty International October 8 2008 in Spanish Espana extradita a Rusia a un checheno que pidio asilo por torturas El Pais 13 12 2008 in Spanish Espana No deben aceptarse las garantias diplomaticas de Rusia en el caso Gasayev Amnesty International December 15 2008 in Spanish Espana Detener extradicion a Rusia Sospechoso checheno en riesgo de sufrir tortura Human Rights Watch December 16 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Murat Gasaev amp oldid 1131923117, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
