Armenia Protects Deserter: Former Russian Soldier Escapes Extradition Amid Tensions with Moscow

Armenian authorities thwarted attempts by Russian military officials to capture a former Russian soldier who had fled the country after refusing to serve in Ukraine, as reported on Monday by the exiled news agency Novaya Gazeta Europa, citing unnamed human rights activists.

Semyon Subbotin, a former member of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, escaped to Armenia in September 2024 after being placed on Russia’s wanted list for desertion. He had been living in Armenia without legal status since an international arrest warrant was issued against him.

Recently, Subbotin was informed that Russian military officials had traveled to Armenia with the intent of forcibly repatriating him. Seeking safety, he voluntarily reached out to the police in Yerevan for assistance.

Armenian law enforcement detained him for a mandatory 72-hour period while awaiting an official extradition request from Moscow, which, however, was never submitted.

Reports indicated that Russian officials attempted to collect Subbotin directly from the detention center without adhering to proper protocols, raising concerns among local human rights organizations about a possible abduction.

Armenian police denied these officials access, and after his detention period ended, Subbotin was released to his lawyer’s custody.

He remains at liberty in Armenia while awaiting any potential formal extradition measures.

«Law enforcement is acting professionally, and their actions are intended to prevent Subbotin’s unlawful deportation,» human rights advocates stated to Novaya Gazeta Europa.

Asmik Novikova, an expert with the Russian human rights organization Public Verdict, informed the exiled Mediazona news outlet that Russia has a 40-day timeframe to submit a formal extradition request for Subbotin.

He is among many Russian soldiers who have sought refuge in Armenia to escape deployment to Ukraine.

In 2023, Armenian courts rejected Russia’s extradition request for deserting soldier Yuri Trostyansky, who was later set free.

However, in a different incident, Russian military police in Armenia detained and sent back another deserter, Dmitry Setrakov, leading to criticism from Armenian officials.

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