UNHCR seeks information on fate of disappeared asylum-seeker

UNHCR is concerned by the situation of Leonid Razvozzhaev, an asylum-seeker who disappeared from Kyiv last Friday, 19 October 2012, subsequently appearing in police custody in Moscow earlier this week.

During an asylum counselling session in Kyiv on 19 October, Mr. Razvozzhaev, a national of the Russian Federation, expressed his intention to apply for asylum, both verbally and in writing. As such, he is protected by international refugee law and becomes a person of concern to UNHCR. Both Ukraine and the Russian Federation are signatories of the 1951 Refugee Convention and thus are subject to a treaty obligation to protect refugees and asylum-seekers.

UNHCR is seeking clarification of Mr Razvozzhaev's current condition and status from the authorities in the Russian Federation and has also asked for access to him.

The circumstances of Mr Razvozzhaev's disappearance, which happened during a short break in a legal advice session with UNHCR 's legal partner organization in Kyiv, remain unclear. His disappearance was immediately reported to the Ukrainian police. UNHCR has requested the authorities to promptly and thoroughly investigate this incident.

UNHCR is calling on the authorities in Kyiv to immediately implement measures to ensure that people approaching UNHCR and its partners for assistance in seeking asylum are not exposed to risks to their security by doing so.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

• In Moscow: Galina Negrustueva, office +7495660859; mobile +79037217560
• In Kyiv: Oleksandra Makovska, office +380442889710(ext116); mobile +38 050 310 1767
• In Geneva: Andrej Mahecic, +41227398657; +41792007617