Ukrainian authorities granted refugee status to activist Alexander Shelkovenkov

On October 3, the State Migration Service of Ukraine granted refugee status to National Bolshevik Platform activist Alexander Shelkovenkov. This was reported by the EmigRussia project, which coordinates assistance to the activist.

Alexander Shelkovenkov had previously crossed the border of Ukraine, but employees of the State Border Service of Ukraine denied him entry due to a violation of the asylum procedure. As the project staff clarifies, “unfortunately, the result of the Shelkovenkov case is the exception rather than the rule. For most Russian asylum seekers, the procedure for obtaining status lasts for years of legal proceedings with the migration service.”

Shelkovenkovasked for political asylum from the Ukrainian authorities in May 2016. The activist was repeatedly detained at rallies in Moscow. In January 2015, he received 45 days for an action in support of Nadezhda Savchenko. In June 2015, Shelkovenkov, along with Left Front activists, was beaten by SOBR, FSB and Center for Combating Extremism officers, who accused them of illegal possession of weapons and terrorism, and in December 2015,a search was carried out in the apartment of Shelkovenkov’s parents.