Human rights activists ensured Subbotin's safety in Armenia

Russian Semyon Subbotin, wanted under the article on unauthorized abandonment of the military unit, is in a safe place. Russian security forces have practically no chance of officially extraditing Subbotin, human rights activists reported.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, Semyon Subbotin, who is wanted under the article on unauthorized abandonment of the military unit, was detained by the Armenian police for three days. Russian military personnel were waiting for him at the detention center from which he was supposed to be released on July 20, human rights activists reported.

Former Russian military man Semyon Subbotin, whom the Armenian police did not extradite to Russia, is now in a safe place, representatives of the human rights organizations Public Verdict*, Ark* and Helsinki Citizens' Assembly - Vanadzor told the Caucasian Knot. All three organizations also confirmed that Subbotin himself is not currently communicating with journalists.

Subbotin's motives for leaving Russia were obvious, "he did not want to kill and die," Ivan Chuvilyaev, a representative of the Go Through the Forest* project, whose help Subbotin used when leaving, told the Caucasian Knot.

Subbotin arrived in Armenia at the end of 2024. "He does not work in Armenia, hiding from those who are looking for him in order to return him to service," said a representative of the organization "Helsinki Citizens' Assembly - Vanadzor". He added that Subbotin was released from the police because Russia did not send an extradition request.

In the interstate wanted list in the CIS countries, the data of wanted persons is entered almost automatically, unlike Interpol, and no one checks the political motivation of the persecution, the coordinator of "Ark"* pointed out.

"However, then each country, having received an extradition request, can independently check the grounds in each specific case and make a decision. Armenia does not extradite Russians who are persecuted for political reasons and for refusing military service. The procedure is similar in many cases: detention, obtaining documents from Russia, a short questioning. Then the person is released and no actions are taken to extradite them. Therefore, the chances of extradition are very low - especially since this is a judicial procedure that involves different instances, and our defense team has a solid legal strategy," he noted.

The activist noted that the attempt by Russian military personnel from the 102nd base in Gyumri to detain Subbotin is a "gross violation of Armenia's sovereignty."

"Russian security forces and military personnel do not have the right to conduct operational search activities, detain, interrogate, or take someone away from the territory of another country. There is only one procedure, through an extradition request, and then Armenian law enforcement agencies decide and act," concluded Kovcheg*.

On April 9, 2024, human rights activists stated that Russian military police detained and illegally held Anatoly Shchetinin on the territory of a military base in Gyumri, who was wanted in Russia for refusing military service. After meeting with Shchetinin, human rights activists reported that he had decided to return to Russia, but on May 1 it became known that he had agreed to their help.

On December 7, 2023, mobilized Russian serviceman Dmitry Setrakov was detained in Gyumri. According to human rights activists, Russian military police officers detained him for leaving his unit without permission. On December 19, it became known that Setrakov was taken to Russia. Human rights activists suggested that he was illegally taken away with the connivance of the Armenian authorities, effectively kidnapped. In an interview with a French television company, the Prime Minister of Armenia also called what happened to Setrakov a kidnapping.

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