MOSCOW, January 30 (RAPSI) – The Moscow City Court will review an appeal filed by journalist of Novaya Gazeta newspaper Ali Feruz (Khudoberdy Nurmatov) against a ruling refusing him temporary asylum in Russia, the press-service of the court told RAPSI.

In January, the Supreme Court ruled to review the case of Feruz once more and overturned the ruling of the Moscow City Court that upheld a 5,000-ruble fine (about $90 at current exchange rate) and a deportation order given to Feruz.

On August 3, a court in Moscow held that Ali Feruz must be deported to Uzbekistan for violating emigration rules. He was also fined 5,000 rubles and put in a special temporary residence center for foreign citizens. The journalist pleaded not guilty. Feruz said that his life would be in danger if he is deported.

On August 4, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) held that Feruz can’t be deported during the hearing of his case in Strasbourg. The Moscow City Court reviewed the appeal and suspended the deportation.

In November, however, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow fined Feruz and ordered his deportation from Russia. This ruling was upheld by the Moscow City Court.

Feruz, who applied for refugee status in Russia in 2014, was forced to leave Uzbekistan in 2008 because of refusal to cooperate with the country’s security agencies and tortures.

The Union of Journalists, Amnesty International and Russia's Presidential Council for Human Rights have already asked the authorities not to deport Feruz. The Human Rights Council claimed that the ordered deportation of Feruz to Uzbekistan contravenes Russia's Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.

The President’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in turn that the authorities are aware of this problem. The situation is rather complicated, and several factors do not allow to put aside the occurred violations, he added.