Estonia extradited an asylum seeker from Chechnya to Russia.

A Chechen man seeking protection in Estonia was deported to Russia after failing to receive adequate legal assistance. Human rights activists claim the man had reason to fear for his life.

The deportation of the man, whose name has not been released, took place on March 20.

The asylum seeker "tried for months to prove that his life was in danger," but was denied full access to legal assistance, the opportunity to defend his rights, and a fair hearing, said human rights activist Roza Dunayeva.

"According to those who followed his case, he had serious reasons to fear for his life," she wrote on her Facebook page*.

Dunayeva called the Estonian authorities' decision "a painful reminder of the contradictions between proclaimed democratic values ​​and the state's actual actions." She also noted that the Chechen's deportation took place during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. "Knowing that this is a person of the Muslim faith, this step seems especially cruel," the human rights activist noted.

Dunaeva's publication contains no information about what happened to the deported Chechen man on Russian territory after his expulsion from Estonia.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that in 2025, Estonia denied asylum to Chechen native Maryat Batalova, who was tortured by security forces after critically remarking about the actions of Chechen troops in Ukraine. The Court of Appeal upheld the refusal and banned her from entering the Schengen area for three years, ruling that Marjat Batalova must leave Estonia for a third country where she does not require a visa to legally enter.