According to the Russian news agency Interfax, Shamsuddin Batukayev’s relatives have asked Ramzan Kadyrov to assist in Batukayev’s return to Chechnya.

On December 25, head of Russian puppets in Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov met with the clergy. During the meeting, Khuseyn Batukayev, an imam of a mosque in Grozny and uncle of Shamsuddin Batukayev, expressed his nephew’s desire to return to his homeland.

“Shamsuddin Batukayev has been abroad for ten years. He has decided to come back, but his documents are expired. He has had problems receiving new ones. Therefore, on behalf of the clergy, I am asking you to consider this issue and do anything possible to help him return,” said Khuseyn Batukayev.

Kadyrov immediately agreed to help. “If Shamsuddin made this kind of a decision, then today I will arrange the extradition documents promptly,” said Kadyrov.

Our editors got in touch with Mazlumder’s Istanbul branch chief Mr. Murat Ozer. “We provided two pro-bono lawyers for Shamsuddin Batukayev. We are preparing his asylum application. Turkish authorities offered to send him to a third country. Mr. Batukayev clearly rejected going back to Russia or Chechnya or even a third country. He said he wants to stay in Turkey. This news is just propaganda from the Russian side,” said Mr. Ozer.

Let us remind you that Shamsuddin Batukayev was a former head of the Shari’a Courts in the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. He has been in police custody in Istanbul, Turkey since December 8, 2010.

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