HCA Vanadzor warns against Emil Torosyan's extradition to Russia

Armenia is preparing to extradite Emil Torosyan, an ethnic Armenian citizen of Russia, the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly-Vanadzor said in a statement.

"Last week, the man applied to the Migration and Citizenship Service, seeking asylum. However, without waiting for the application to be officially received and the relevant proceedings to be initiated, the Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia decided to extradite Torosyan in a gross violation of the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights," the organization warned.

"It is worth noting that Emil Torosyan is an ethnic Armenian and has every right and opportunity to obtain Armenian citizenship. In fact, he submitted a citizenship application back in September, yet no action has been taken to address either of his legal requests for citizenship and asylum.

"We call on the Prosecutor General’s Office to immediately halt the extradition of Emil Torosyan, as his extradition would make the Republic of Armenia complicit in any possible torture he may face in the Russian Federation," the statement read.