Human rights defenders call extradition of ethnic Armenian to Russia unacceptable

The General Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia has allowed the extradition of Russian citizen Emil Torosyan to Russia. Human rights defenders have pointed out the inadmissibility of extradition because of the threat of torture.

The human rights defenders have expressed their serious concerns about possible violations of the Emil Torosyan’s rights.

Last week, Emil Torosyan applied to the Migration Service of Armenia with a request for asylum, noted human rights defender Arthur Sakunts, the head of the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly. “This fact is sufficient to cancel the decision on extradition,” Arthur Sakunts stated.

According to the human rights defender’s explanation, the extradition would be a gross violation of the Emil Torosyan’s rights guaranteed by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. “Emil Torosyan is an ethnic Armenian, and he has all the legal rights to obtain citizenship of Armenia,” Arthur Sakunts explained.

“If Emil Torosyan is extradited, Armenia will also be held responsible for any possible torture that he may be subjected to in Russia,” the human rights defender emphasized.

Ani Chatinyan, a lawyer for the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly, has added that Emil Torosyan has been in custody for almost eight months. The lawyer did not rule out filing a lawsuit with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) with a request to suspend the extradition process because of the threats of torture.

“Emil Torosyan was detained on the charge of possessing ammunition. He had a registered firearm in Russia, which he handed over to the law enforcement bodies, but he still had some ammunition at home,” the lawyer explained.