The Germany based international NGO and human rights organization, the Society for Threatened Peoples (Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker – GfbV) has published a report about the current situation facing Chechen refugees in Poland.

The report aims to improve the status of Chechen refugees by drawing the attention of the international community and responsible decision makers at all levels to their current situation.

The report provides information on entry, reception, living conditions, legal status, and prospects of asylum seekers from Chechnya in Poland. The report also criticizes the Dublin II regulation and demands that the EU Member States, in relation to the European asylum policy and the Dublin II system:

-To guarantee access to fair asylum procedures for refugees from Chechnya in the EU;

-Chechens who have not been granted refugee or other international protection should obtain a legal status that guarantees the protection of their human rights and a decent standard of living;

-To suspend the return of Chechen refugees according to the Dublin II regulations to other EU Member States when fair and efficient asylum procedures cannot be guaranteed there;

-To deny a forced return to the Russian Federation for Chechen refugees seeking international-al protection and to stand against the propaganda of voluntary return to Russia where safety and security cannot be guaranteed;

-To reform the Dublin II Regulation, not only superficially, but in its fundamental principles. Today, the system fails to provide adequate protection for people fleeing from persecution, and is in conflict with ethical and humanitarian commitments of the EU Member States;

-To prevent the people are brought into custody in order to force them “voluntary” leave the country;

-If an asylum seeker is dependent on the help of family members, for a serious illness or mental disorders, disability, pregnancy or old age etc., the family should not be returned to the responsible EU Member State (according to the Dublin II Regulation), if medical care is not adequately provided there. The Chechen refugees, who often need treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, cannot get medically necessary treatment in Poland;

-To temporarily suspend the Dublin II system if the social system of an EU border state like Poland is confronted with a large number of refugees and cannot guarantee them sufficient protection and decent living conditions;

-To offer EU border countries, particularly Poland and Greece, financial and organizational support and implement procedures to improve the welfare system, medical care, and social assistance for refugees and asylum seekers in these states.

The whole report is available HERE.

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