04 September 2019, 10:42
Russian political prisoner receives asylum in Armenia
Vitaly Shishkin, a Russian activist, recognized by the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" as a political prisoner, has been granted asylum in Armenia. The refugee status was issued to a Russian citizen for the first time, the country's migration service has explained.
Mr Shishkin is the organizer of "Russian Marches" in Kaluga and a former head of the Kaluga branch of the "Russians Ethnopolitical Association", banned in Russia. On January 10, 2019, he was released from jail and left for Armenia, the "Verelq.am" reports.
In 2012, Shishkin participated in oppositional rallies in Moscow, as well as in people's gatherings in Russian cities after interethnic clashes, the "Lenta.ru" has reported.
In 2015, Shishkin was detained.
On October 30, 2015, the HRC "Memorial" recognized him as a political prisoner, since concluded that Shishkin's criminal prosecution was connected exclusively with the non-violent exercise of him of the right to the freedom of self-expression.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 4, 2019 at 06:39 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
