Local media sources have reported that a Chechen family is facing extradition from Austria to Russia.

According to the information, Yusup Akhmedov, his wife Rovzana Akhmedova, and their four children – between 3 and 8 years old – will be extradited from Austria to Russia after four years of waiting for their asylum application to be approved. The Akhmedov family ran away from their homeland in 2005 because of the ongoing brutality and pressure in the Russian occupied Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. They reached Poland first and between 2005 and 2007, they received a negative decision four times for their asylum demands. Then, in March 2007, they arrived in Austria illegaly with the hope of living in safety and creating a new life. Unfortunately, the process of their asylum application continued until November 2011 when all possible further appeals ended. The family recently received the final asylum denial from the Interior Ministry, even with the fact that Rovzana has endured serious trauma and suffers from chronic illness.

“The family lives in fear of deportation, it is a nightmare for them. The family has experienced both mental and physical violence in Chechnya. The woman is severely traumatized, and deportation to Chechnya, as identified by her treating physician, would be unworkable and a violation of human rights conventions,” said Ines Aftenberger from the refugee association “ISOP” which stands up for the family.

The Austrian authorities must also consider that the Chechen family is well integrated to Austrian social life. They have lived in Reigersburg, Austria for more than four years, and Yusup works an official job. Two of their children were born in Austria, and all four children attend the elementary school or kindergarten.

Now, hundreds of people who know the Chechen family and live in the same city are advocating for the family and hope to prevent the extradition. Of course, they need all the support they can get from around the world.

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