Armenia Protects Former Russian Soldier from Illegal Extradition Amid Rising Tensions

Armenian law enforcement has thwarted efforts by Russian military officials to capture a former soldier who fled the country after opting out of service in Ukraine, according to Novaya Gazeta Europa, an independent news outlet operating in exile, which cited unnamed human rights advocates.

Semyon Subbotin, previously part of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, escaped to Armenia in September 2024 after being listed as a wanted deserter. He had been living in Armenia without legal status due to an international arrest warrant issued against him.

Recently, Subbotin discovered that Russian military representatives had come to Armenia with the intention of forcibly returning him to Russia. Seeking safety, he approached the police in Yerevan.

The Armenian authorities initially detained him for a mandatory period of 72 hours while awaiting a formal extradition request from Russia, which, notably, was never submitted.

Reports indicate that Russian officials attempted to retrieve Subbotin directly from the detention center by bypassing official protocols, raising concerns among local human rights organizations about a potential abduction.

Armenian police denied them access, and Subbotin was eventually released into the custody of his lawyer once the detention period concluded.

He currently remains free in Armenia, pending the possibility of an official extradition process.

Human rights advocates informed Novaya Gazeta Europa that «the police are conducting their duties effectively, focused on thwarting Subbotin’s unlawful expulsion.»

Asmik Novikova, a specialist from the Russian human rights organization Public Verdict, explained to the exiled Mediazona news platform that Russia has a 40-day window to file an extradition request for Subbotin.

He is among numerous Russian soldiers who have sought refuge in Armenia to evade deployment to Ukraine.

In a prior case, Armenian courts dismissed Russia’s extradition demand for another deserter, Yuri Trostyansky, who was later released.

Conversely, Russian military police in Armenia have previously apprehended and returned another deserter, Dmitry Setrakov, which drew criticism from Armenian officials.

Tigran Balayan, Armenia’s ambassador to the European Union, stated to The Moscow Times that this transfer breached existing legal agreements between the two countries.