Russian Federation/ Democratic People’s Republic of Korea: refoulement of Lee Yen Sen/ fear for safety in North Korea

Lee Yen Sen, a citizen of the Democratic People´s Republic of Korea was returned by the authorities of the Russian Federation to his country of origin in September 1995. Lee Yen Sen had requested asylum in the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) on at least two occasions. A decision on his last request, made in 1993, was never taken. Amnesty International is concerned that Lee Yen Sen, who claims to have been subjected to serious ill-treatment in police detention in North Korea in the 1970s, may face human rights violations in North Korea. Amnesty International believes that Lee Yen Sen was returned to North Korea contrary to obligations of the Russian Federation under international law, in particular the principle of non-refoulement.