(Global News) One of the Toronto men recently charged following an investigation into alleged hate and extremism-motivated crimes targeting women and Jews was denied refugee status more than seven years ago, according to court records.
Government records obtained by Global News show that Osman Azizov is an Azerbaijani citizen who, accompanied by his parents, crossed into Canada between official border points near Lacolle, Que., in 2017.
The Immigration and Refugee Board rejected the Azizov family’s asylum claims in 2018, the Refugee Appeal Division denied their appeal, and the Federal Court declined to review the case in 2019, the records indicate.
But Azizov was nonetheless living in Toronto when he was arrested in August for allegedly trying to kidnap three women at gunpoint. Police announced the charges on Dec. 19, saying some were “motivated by hate.”
