Russian Federation: Failure to protect asylum seekers

Index Number: EUR 46/003/1997
Date Published: 17 April 1997
Categories: Europe And Central Asia, Russian Federation

Amnesty International is concerned that the Russian Federation is failing in its duty to protect asylum seekers fleeing human rights violations. Asylum seekers wishing to seek protection in the Russian Federation are routinely denied access to the asylum procedures and are often harassed and ill-treated by law enforcement officers. They are at constant risk of being detained, unable to obtain any protective identity documents from the authorities. This report also focuses on specific cases of refoulement, in particular from the transit zone of Sheremetevo-II airport in Moscow. Amnesty International makes recommendations not only to the Government of the Russian Federation but also to the international community.