Don't sentence us to death (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Don't sentence us to death

Zarina and Islan Eltuyev with their children Aslan, left, and Said Picture Ref: 78866-186WHEN Zarina Eltuyev found her four-year-old son curled up in a corner and rocking back and forth she knew she had to do something.

Her eldest child had just watched as his parents were dragged out of bed, marched out to the garden and beaten by Russian security forces.

Zarina was held by the hair and hit in the face as six armed men laid into her husband, Islan.

And all this was because they wrongly believed Islan was a terrorist.

That was back in 2003. By May that year the family had fled their homeland to seek refuge in England.

But now with their asylum application rejected they face being sent back to the place where they left in fear of their lives.

The family say they are terrified and Zarina, 27, who is due to give birth next week, says her husband will be killed if they return.

Labour MP for North Swindon Michael Wills has written to the Home Office on their behalf but his plea fell on deaf ears.

The family have twice tried to appeal but now they have no avenues left to pursue and face being removed by force.

With tears running down her face Zarina, 27, recalled the first time the security forces came to their house.

She said: "It was still quite dark and we didn't really know what was going on.

"They smashed in to our house and they took us from our beds.

"They took us out in to the garden and began to punch my husband all over.

"One of them was holding me by the hair and hitting me. He was making me watch and shouting at me and swearing.

"It was horrible. It's really hard to speak about it.

"I didn't know what would happen. After they left our neighbour had to take him to hospital.

"My son saw it all and I found him hiding in a corner of the house just shaking. He didn't speak for a long time.

"He was scared they would come back."

After that first attack the family lived in fear.

Islan worked as a professional boxing coach and with Zarina at home looking after their two children, Said, now seven, and three-year-old Aslan, she became obsessed with her family's safety.

"They said they could come back anytime and they did," she said.

"They would come to our house any time of day or night they wanted.

"There was nothing we could do. They would punch my husband. We were in danger.

"They said they would take our children if my husband didn't tell them everything about the rebels but he didn't know anything. It was horrible."

With Islan unable to convince the authorities he was not involved in any rebel activity his family was constantly in danger.

A number of Islan's friends had become involved with the Chechnyan rebels and the raids on his house were becoming more frequent.

"We knew we had to get away," she said.

"The only reason they didn't kill my husband was because they wanted him to work for them and find out about the rebels.

"The day we left they had been the night before.

"We left in the early morning. We were just in a rush. It was quick, quick, quick. We didn't want to take anything because we didn't want anyone to see that we were leaving in case they told on us.

"We had our clothes and we had just two bags of things for the children.

"I remember it was two bags because we lost one of them."

The family left in their car and drove across Europe. It was two weeks before they reached England.

On arriving in Margate on May 26, 2003, the authorities sent them to Swindon.

They were housed in Ipswich Street by the National Asylum Seeker's Service which also gives them £130 a week.

But that was not the end of their problems.

Their son Said, who goes to school here, had been badly affected by what his family went through.

"When we got here he didn't talk for a long time," she said. "He was getting in trouble at school. He was very aggressive.

"He saw what they did to my husband.

"He still has troubles in his head now. It's difficult. We can't afford for this to happen again to our family."

Mrs Eltuyev says their application to stay failed because her husband was reluctant to talk about what they had been through.

"When we left we left everything," she said. "My husband, like all men, doesn't like to cry and say everything.

"When we applied for asylum he did not tell them everything."

The Home Office say the Eltuyevs have no chance of staying.

In a letter to Michael Wills it was made clear that the family had exhausted all their rights to appeal.

A spokesman for the Home Office said the couple could be removed any time in the next two months.

He said: "We will provide protection to those who need it and seek to remove those who do not, which is essential if the system is to be seen as both robust and fair."

Why the family say they had to flee their homeland

May 12, 2003: Following months of escalating persecution the Eltuyev family feel they have no choice but to flee their home in Chechnya.

May 26, 2003: After travelling for two weeks they arrive in Margate on a ferry from France.

May 27, 2003: They apply for asylum status in Britain but it is refused.

August 5, 2003: They lodge an appeal against the decision to send them back to Chechnya.

November 25, 2003: The appeal is dismissed.

December 10, 2003: Labour MP for North Swindon writes to the Home Office to try and help the family.

January 13, 2004: Permission to appeal for the second time is refused.

Let them stay say neighbours

FRIENDS and neighbours of the Eltuyev family say they have made a real effort to be part of the community.

Harry Scott, 64, who runs the Walcot Boxing club where Islan is a volunteer, said: "It will be a shame if they get sent home.

"He is willing to work and be part of the community and that's what everyone wants."

Next door neighbour John Berry, 45, a company manager, said: "They are a nice family. They interact well with the community.

"It would be a shame to make them go back because of the problems there."

Pensioners Pat and David Scott, the Eltuyev's other next-door neighbours are also keen for them to stay.

Pat said: "You couldn't wish for better neighbours, they are lovely.

"My husband was ill a little while ago and he (Islan) said he we could give him a knock and he would take us to the hospital any time.

"They are the best neighbours we have had. We've had no trouble with them at all." Judith Palmer, 49, a full-time student who lives two doors from the family, said: "They are a nice family. The children get on well with the other children around here.

"They've had a lot of difficulties and they've managed really well.

"The better their English has got the more that has helped.

"We often have a chat over the fence and it's always friendly. I'm very sorry to hear they might have to go."

Country hit by conflict

The southern Russian republic of Chechnya is surrounded on nearly all sides by Russian territory.

Rich in oil, its economy and infrastructure are now in ruins after years of war between local separatists and Russian forces, combined with armed banditry and organised crime.

The British Embassy in Russia advises against all travel to Chechnya.

Chechen separatists defeated Russian forces in a 1994-1996 war but President Putin sent Russian troops back into Chechnya in October 1999.

Last year Chechen Warlord Shamil Basayev claimed responsibility for the Beslan school siege.

Three hundred and thirty people died in last September's siege in the republic of North Ossetia.

In 2004 their President Kadyrov was killed in bomb blast. And in March this year separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov was killed during an operation by Russian forces.

Mr Maskhadov, a former Soviet colonel, was branded a terrorist by Moscow for his involvement in the war in Chechnya.

He led Chechen separatists who defeated Russian forces in the 1994-1996 war.

MP tries to aid cause

AS most families were getting ready for Christmas last year the Eltuyev family were more concerned about getting sent back to Chechnya than buying a turkey.

In a bid to remain in the country they approached the Labour MP for North Swindon Michael Wills for help, and he agreed to fight their corner.

On December 10, 2004, Mr Wills, pictured, wrote to the Home Office to see what the family could do.

The response left little room for debate.

It said: "Mr and Mrs Eltuyev and their children have exhausted their appeal rights and have no basis to stay in the UK. They should make immediate arrangements to leave.

"Should they not leave voluntarily steps may be taken to enforce their removal."

Mr Wills wrote to the family apologising at the outcome.

He offered to discuss the situation with their solicitor and told them: "I remain happy to help in any way I can. If you feel I can be of any further assistance please contact me."

Gareth Bethell