Ukraine grants asylum to a Russian opposition politician
Ivan Beletsky, Russian opposition politician and one of the organizers of the Russian marches, as well as the Artpodgotovka civic movement, received political asylum in Ukraine. He himself announced this in a video taken near the building of the State Migration Service of Ukraine and published it on Thursday, April 11.
“I officially declare that I have received refugee status in the territory of Ukraine,” he said.
He added that the procedure for obtaining the status lasted about 11 months.
“I’m sure that they (the Security Service of Ukraine and the Migration Service) appreciated my information and media contribution to strengthening of Ukraine’s integrity,” added Beletsky.
Beletsky, along with Vyacheslav Maltsev, is one of the organizers of the Artpodgotovka movement, declared extremist in Russia and described as “left-right”. He is also considered one of the leaders of an unregistered political nationalist party. Beletsky is also known for his speeches critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In July 2017, after the mass arrests of Artpodgotovka members began, Beletsky fled to Ukraine.
In Russia, Beletsky was arrested in absentia and put on the international wanted list. However, the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) recognized him politically persecuted and took the politician under its international protection.
It was reported earlier that two policemen from the Russian Federation sought asylum in Ukraine. They claim that a criminal case has been fabricated against them in Russia.