Istanbul based Caucasus associations, including a Turkish human rights organization, have published a press statement in reference to the murders of three Chechen asylum seekers in Turkey last week.

Here is the statement:

The aggression of the state of the Russian Federation has resulted in the deaths of 250,000 people in Chechnya in these modern times in front of the world’s public opinion. In the present situation there is, on one hand the aggressors’ collaborating Chechen government which is claiming legitimacy with its propaganda, especially in Muslim public opinion, and on the other hand they have developed an elimination policy against the dissident population.

A part of the dissident people, who are opposed to the collaborator Kadyrov’s regime, took refuge in Turkey only seeking safety, as has happened in many other countries.

While today the winds of freedom are blowing all over the world and democratization is occurring in a push to terminate autocratic governments, our demand from the government, law enforcement and judicial powers is below:

The only entity responsible for the safety of the people, which includes both life and property, who are in the country as refugees, is the government and the state of the Republic of Turkey. The investigation into and judicial process for both the previously committed murders, which still are not solved, as well as the recent attack which resulted in the deaths of three Chechen asylum seekers, should be carried out urgently and sensitively; and the necessary security measures against probable future attacks should be taken.

We present this matter to the attention of those who are concerned in the public arena.

Caucasus Foundation
Caucasus-Chechen Solidarity Association
United Caucasus Association
MAZLUMDER Istanbul branch