Residents of Chechnya leaving due to their reluctance to participate in the war with Ukraine end up transiting in Croatia. Local authorities process asylum applications without their knowledge, resulting in other countries refusing to accept Chechens.
As the organization “Assembly of Chechens in Europe” noted, after these actions by the Croatian migration service, refugees cannot request international protection in other EU countries - this is stipulated in the international Dublin Regulation. They are placed in Croatian camps, where they wait for a long time for a decision.
Previously, Chechen refugees complained of discrimination based on nationality and religion in Croatia. They were detained allegedly on suspicion of involvement in religious extremism, despite the lack of evidence. They went on a hunger strike as a sign of protest.
