A regional news website from Belgium, Lavenir.net, has reported that a Chechen family, who is seeking asylum in Belgium, is now facing extradition to Russia.

According to the report, the Batiev family arrived in Marchin, Belgium two years ago. They asked for asylum, but their demand was rejected twice by the Foreign Office. Now, the family faces the threat of extradition from Belgium to Russia.

After the decision, the school community where the Chechen family’s only child, 8 year old Rassul Batiev studies in 1st grade has mobilized for the family. The initiative believes that their case was not argued well by their lawyer, thus they have written a petition and pointed out some important facts. On the other hand, the initiative has started a campaign for the family and a regional branch of the Red Cross is supporting it as well.

“Rassul is 8 years old now. When he arrived, he couldn’t speak French. Now, he is able to speak well and has developed a lot as a person. He and his family are trying to integrate themselves into our society,” said Rassul’s teacher, Christine Albert.

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

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