Ravil Mingazov, a former detainee at the notorious U.S. detention facility at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan and later at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, has finally been repatriated to Russia after a 22-year ordeal. Mingazov was flown directly into Russia from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and dropped off at his elderly mother’s doorstep. While his family is relieved that he is free, they remain concerned about his safety in Russia.
Mingazov’s advocates, including his family, have long warned about the potential for human rights abuses if he were to be repatriated to Russia. He fled the country in 2000 due to persecution of his Muslim faith. However, his lawyer and son are cautiously optimistic that he is at least out of solitary confinement in the UAE.
Gary Thompson, Mingazov’s lawyer, expressed hope that he can now live his life in peace and have time to recover among family and friends. Yusuf, Mingazov’s son, is relieved to be able to speak freely with his father again but remains uncertain about his safety in Russia.
The Biden administration, the UAE Embassy in Washington, and Russian embassies in the UAE and the U.S. have not yet responded to requests for comment on Mingazov’s repatriation.
Mingazov’s repatriation comes after a tumultuous few weeks for Guantánamo detainees. Last week, three of the four defendants charged for the 9/11 attacks, who remain imprisoned at the base, agreed to plea deals. However, the deals were quickly scuttled by the Biden administration amid criticism. A military judge has asked to review the deals, leaving open the possibility that they may still go through.
In 2016, Mingazov was one of 23 detainees sent by the Obama administration to the UAE because they could not be safely returned to their native countries. Mingazov and his lawyer believed that a secret bilateral agreement between the U.S. State Department and the UAE would guarantee his freedom and reintegration into society. However, instead of receiving care, Mingazov and the other detainees were placed in another prison complex and held incommunicado for years. The UAE eventually expelled all the detainees except Mingazov.
Multiple human rights organizations and Mingazov’s family have been trying to prevent his repatriation to Russia. Last October, fears escalated when Russian and Emirati officials pressured Mingazov to accept a Russian offer of custody. Mingazov chose to remain in solitary confinement in the UAE and refused to sign documents that would trigger his return to Russia. However, he has now been sent back without his consent.
Throughout his seven years in the UAE, Mingazov remained in solitary confinement without access to a lawyer. Phone calls to his family were initially cut off and then completely denied when he spoke about his conditions. Despite assurances from the Russian ambassador to the UAE that he would not be persecuted, Mingazov refused to be repatriated.
Advocacy groups have been raising public awareness about Mingazov’s situation for years. However, he continued to languish in solitary confinement until his recent repatriation to Russia.
In conclusion, Ravil Mingazov’s long ordeal in detention has finally come to an end with his repatriation to Russia. While his family is relieved, they remain concerned about his safety. The circumstances surrounding his repatriation raise questions about human rights and the treatment of detainees. It is crucial for governments and international organizations to address these concerns and ensure the protection of detainees’ rights.