Press release June 7, 2017
Belarus Should Block Extradition of Murad Amriev to Chechnya
Freedom House issued the following statement in response to Chechen authorities’ efforts to extradite Russian athlete Murad Amriev.
Washington
In response to Chechen authorities’ efforts to extradite Murad Amriev, a Russian athlete whose family is embroiled in disputes with the Chechen government, from Belarus, Freedom House issues the following statement:
“The government of Belarus should recognize that Chechnya’s request to extradite Amriev is based on wholly bogus charges of forgery, and that he risks being murdered," said Robert Herman, vice president for international programs at Freedom House. “Amriev fled Chechnya in 2013 after being detained and tortured by police, because of disputes between a brother and Chechen authorities. There are compelling reasons against extraditing Amriev, including Chechen authorities acting systematically outside the law.”
Belarus is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2017, Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2017, Not Free in Freedom on the Net 2016, and received a democracy score of 6.61, on a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 as the worst possible score, in Nations in Transit 2017.