Chechen refugee arrested in Azerbaijan

The court of Azerbaijan passed a decision to arrest Yusup Nagayev, a refugee from Chechnya, for two months, report Nagayev's relatives to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The relatives highlight that Nagayev was detained on the basis of a request from Russia. Nagayev is charged under Article 126.2 of the Russian Criminal Code which stipulates a punishment for kidnapping. In Russia, Nagayev may face up to 15 years of prison. Russia insists on Nagayev's extradition.

Nagayev has been staying in Azerbaijan since 2000. Starting from 2002, he is an official refugee registered by the UNHCR in Azerbaijan. According to his relatives, the reason of his coming to Azerbaijan is his refusal to cooperate with the Chechen administration Nagayev's brothers Khamzat and Badruddin have left Chechnya for the same reasons.

According to Nagayev brothers' relatives, there is one more brother, Siddik, who was arrested and subjected to torture which resulted in his death. Yusup Nagayev, aged 40, in his time was the driver of Saidsalhan Abuslimov, former Chechen vice-Prime Minister under president Zelimkhan Yandarbiev.

The council of Chechen refugees in Azerbaijan addressed Azeri President Ilkham Aliev and international organizations with a request to do everything in order not to allow Nagayev to be extradited to Russian authorities.