CAT/C/55/D/642/2014 The facts as presented by the complainant 2.1 The complainant submits that he was born and raised in Grozny, Chechnya, in the Russian Federation, and that when he was 12 years old, the Russian federal authorities started to persecute members of his family as they were perceived as supporters of rebel groups within the context of the so-called “second Chechen war”. Some of his relatives joined rebel groups, but he had no connection to any such groups. In 2000, the authorities fabricated charges of illegal possession of weapons against one of his uncles. After his uncle was convicted, the Russian authorities regularly broke into the complainant’s family home and interrogated members of his family. He alleges that he was tortured and illtreated at that time. 2.2 According to the complainant, in 2004 he suffered severe injuries when a landmine exploded right outside his house; he lost one eye and several fingers and still has pieces of shrapnel in his head. He argues that after the explosion, the Russian authorities referred to him publicly as a terrorist and maintained that he had been injured in combat, as he was allegedly connected with rebels groups. Given that context, he had to escape and hide several times. 2.3 The complainant submits that he was charged with the crime of assisting rebels and was tried by the Russian judicial authorities. He claims that the authorities promised to stop harassing his family in exchange for a guilty plea. Under family pressure, the complainant pleaded guilty. He was imprisoned and severely beaten in detention. As a result of the beatings, he had to undergo surgery, during which his spleen was removed. Thereafter, the complainant was released and granted amnesty. However, the Russian authorities continued to persecute him as they believed that he had intelligence about rebel groups. He moved to Abhkhazia and went into hiding, but the authorities found him and sent him back to Chechnya. 2.4 On 2 June 2010, armed law enforcement agents broke into the complainant’s home and searched it. He claims that they stole personal effects and documents belonging to several of his relatives. While they were searching for things to steal, he fled through the backyard of the house. The agents shot at him and he was injured in one leg, but he managed to escape. The following morning, his relatives went to the Oktyabrsky district police department where they had their personal documents and belongings returned. According to the complainant, his relatives were told by the authorities that the aim of the raid had been to detain him as they had been informed that the complainant was a former member of a rebel group. After that, he decided to flee to Sweden. 2.5 Upon the complainant’s arrival in Sweden, he filed an application for asylum before the migration authorities. On 3 October 2010, the Swedish migration authorities refused the complainant’s request for asylum. The complainant submitted an application for appeal before the Swedish Migration Court. 2.6 The complainant submits that after his departure, the Russian authorities continued to search for him. He claims that on 8 January 2011, his mother was summoned by the Oktyabrsky district police department, interrogated by a man who did not identify himself and asked whether the complainant was involved in Wahhabi activities. His mother denied that he was involved with Wahhabi militants and maintained that she had not seen him since July 2010. 2.7 On 4 August 2011, the Swedish Migration Court rejected the complainant’s application for appeal. 2.8 The complainant submits that on 12 December 2011, he travelled to Austria and applied for asylum there. On 2 March 2012, his application was rejected by the Austrian authorities. They stated that he had arrived in Sweden first and that, according to the 3