A court in Romania's northeastern city of Suceava has ruled to extradite to Russia a Chechen woman, 36-year-old Amina Gerikhanova, who fled the fighting in Ukraine after Moscow invaded the country in February.
Gerikhanova's relative, Amrudi Bakharchiev, told RFE/RL on April 19 that Gerikhanova is wanted in Russia for allegedly taking part in military operations with the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria, which the woman and her relatives have denied.
Bakharchiev added that Gerikhanova appealed the court's ruling and has asked for political asylum in Romania.
Gerikhanova, who fled Russia five years ago and was in Kyiv as a refugee, left the Ukrainian capital for Romania along with hundreds of thousands of others after Moscow launched its war against Ukraine on February 24.
Romanian authorities detained her on March 13 at Russia's request after she crossed the border.
On March 23, thousands rallied in front of the Romanian Embassy in Vienna protesting Gerikhanova's arrest.
On April 18, the Sweden-based Vaifond human rights group, which focuses on the rights of ethnic Chechens abroad, said that Ukraine's presidential office had promised to take Gerikhanova back to Ukraine if Romanian authorities decided to deport her to Kyiv.
Romanian Court Rules To Extradite To Russia Chechen Woman Who Fled Ukraine Amid War
Amina Gerikhanova fled Russia five years ago.