The Armenian police have refused to hand over to Russia a deserter who left the country after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, human rights activists who wished to remain anonymous have told Novaya Gazeta Europe.

Semyon Subbotin. Photo provided by human rights activists

Semyon Subbotin, 25, left Russia in September 2024 with the help of Get Lost, a project helping Russians fleeing mobilisation and political persecution.

Subbotin faced legal difficulties in Armenia as Russia had placed him on the international wanted list after opening a criminal case against him for desertion. Having discovered that people had come to Armenia to forcibly take him back to Russia or put pressure on him to return, Subbotin sought legal protection from the Armenian police.

“In such cases ... Armenian police notify the Russian side, and Russia prepares extradition paperwork in response. An Armenian court decides on extradition. After contacting the police in Yerevan, Subbotin was detained for 72 hours — time for the Russian side to transfer its materials ... However, the Russian military came to the facility where Subbotin was being detained … and wanted to take him without following procedure,” sources told Novaya Europe.

Human rights activists contacted the Yerevan police and the Armenian Prosecutor’s Office to warn them of the risk of Subbotin being abducted. After 72 hours, Subbotin was released and taken to a Yerevan police station to meet his defence lawyer. He is currently free.

“The police acted professionally and did what they could to prevent the illegal removal of Subbotin,” the human rights activists said.

Russia has not yet formally requested Subbotin’s extradition. “If there is a request for extradition, this will be reviewed by courts in Armenia ... If Russia does not send a request within 40 days, the Armenian authorities will unilaterally annul any search,” the human rights activists say.

In late 2023, Get Lost reported that Russian forces had abducted Dmitry Setrakov, a soldier who had deserted and was hiding out in Armenia, and brought him back to Russia. Human rights activists said he ended up in detention in the southern Russian city of Rostov.

Another Russian serviceman, Anatoly Shchetinin, left his unit and went to Armenia in October 2023. Russian military police detained him as he was leaving the Russian consulate in the city of Gyumri in April 2024. Shchetinin told human rights activists that the criminal case against him had been dropped and he was returning to Russia of his own free will. His current whereabouts are unknown.