Recent mass deportations from Norway to Russia have deeply affected the community of Chechen asylum seekers in the city of Haugalandet.

Ada, a Chechen woman who has lived in Norway for three years with her husband and two children spoke to the Norwegian newspaper “Haguesunos Avis” about their current situation.

According to Ada, their asylum application was refused for a third time recently. The family had some hope because their children were so successful in school, and the family became well adapted to Norwegian society. However, on January 24th, 17 Chechen asylum seekers were detained in Haugalandet and deported to Russia. This incident deeply affected all of the asylum seekers.

“Now we can’t sleep at night. We think all the time that police will knock on our door and we will be extradited,” said Ada.

“Norwegian authorities think that Chechnya is safe for us. But it is not true. There is a risk of death in Chechnya. It is a very dangerous place for us,” added Ada with tears in her eyes.

Ada also said that she knows Magomed Khanpash Iraskhanov, who was among the recently deported Chechen asylum seekers, very well. Magomed spoke very good Norwegian and was living in Norway for 7 or 8 years.

*Text was translated by Waynakh Online and edited by Michael Capobianco