Since the start of 2024, at least 35 natives of Chechnya have been deported from European countries to Russia. Among them are individuals who had lived in Germany for over 20 years, having fled their home republic to escape threats, torture, and persecution. This was reported to *Kavkaz.Realii* by human rights activist Roza Dunaeva, who serves as a representative of Ichkeria in Austria.

According to Dunaeva, the highest number of such cases involves Germany. Official data indicates that 246 Russian citizens have been deported from Germany since the beginning of the year, though authorities have not specified how many of these are natives of Chechnya. Dunaeva asserts that 15 people from the republic were sent back to Russia in September and October alone. Another three were deported from Austria. All of them were transported via Georgia.

The human rights activist notes that some of the deported Chechens had lived in Germany for more than two decades and held the necessary legal documentation. They had originally left their homeland out of fear of torture, persecution, and forced mobilization.

In November, Said Abuev and Muslim Alkhazov received new orders to leave Germany. According to Dunaeva, both men appear on the Chechen authorities' so-called "hit lists" and have been receiving threats from the republic. Representatives of Ichkeria have referred their cases to the European Court of Human Rights.

"Further deportations are expected. We, as human rights defenders, will continue to track these events, document violations, appeal to European and international human rights institutions, and utilize every available legal mechanism to protect these families," Dunaeva stated.

The issue extends beyond isolated cases of deportation. In Germany, the share of successful asylum applications from natives of Chechnya has dropped sharply. According to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), 21.1% of Chechen applicants were granted protection in 2023, whereas between January and November 2025, that figure fell to just 3.9%. Over the past five years, natives of the republic have accounted for between half and three-quarters of all Russian citizens seeking asylum in Germany. In 2023, German authorities received 6,473 such applications.

At the same time, German authorities acknowledge that natives of Chechnya face specific risks in Russia. In a response to an inquiry from the Bundestag, the government cited dangers including torture, abductions, and persecution by Chechen security forces. Human rights advocates, however, point out that these factors are not always given due consideration when asylum applications are reviewed.

In August, representatives of the Chechen diaspora raised this issue at an OSCE meeting on the prevention of torture. Dunaeva stated at the time that she was aware of at least 21 natives of the Caucasus who had been killed following their deportation to Russia over the last seven to eight years.

"Over the past seven to eight years, at least 21 natives of the Caucasus who were deported to Russia have been killed—and those are just the cases I am aware of," the human rights defender said.

On October 21, a demonstration was held outside the German embassy in Vienna in support of Chechen refugees facing potential deportation to Russia. Participants delivered an appeal to diplomats, urging them to conduct more thorough reviews of asylum cases and to refrain from sending individuals to countries where they could face persecution.