Interpol declines to extradite Alexander Nevzorov and several other writers and journalists facing criminal charges in Russia

The Interpol has declined Russia’s request for the extradition of several writers and journalists facing criminal charges in Russia: Alexander Nevzorov, Alexander Soldatov, the former policeman Oleg Kashintsev, and the blogger Veronika Belotserkovskaya. All of them have been charged with spreading “fakes” about the Russian army, punishable by up to 15 years in prison under Article 207 of the Russian Criminal Code.

The Telegram channel Agentura writes that Russian extradition requests were denied because the Interpol decided that they were politically motivated.

Agentura has published letters from the Interior Ministry and the Attorney General’s office, in which Russian officials point out that the countries that received Russian extradition requests (Finland, Switzerland, Montenegro, France, and the Netherlands) have no laws analogous to the Russian law against “army fakes.”

The Interpol is refusing to lend its mechanisms to aiding political persecution in Russia.

• Article 207 was added to the Russian Criminal Code shortly after the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It provides a punishment of up to 15 years in prison for spreading “fakes” about the Russian military and the war.