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Armenian border guards have prevented Russian activist Roman Shklover from leaving the country, as Russia has placed him on an interstate wanted list over charges of “justifying terrorism on the internet” (part 2, article 205.2 of the Criminal Code), reports SOTA.
He said that he tried to leave Armenia on 8 July, but was detained at border control and handed over to the police.
“I was told that due to the CIS-wide wanted list, I could not leave the country. This is happening despite extradition having been denied, and despite my having committed no crimes. I am not exactly under arrest, and kind of free, but I am not allowed to leave, which is simply outrageous. The attitude at the border was rude and indifferent. I tried to explain that I have no money—spent my last on tickets—have no place to stay, quit my job, was making plans. They said: ‘Go be homeless, not our problem,’” said Shklover.
In October 2024, the activist was detained in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, because he was wanted by Russia. A few hours later, Shklover told acquaintances he was being taken to a temporary detention facility. He was released after news spread about the incident.
In February 2025, Shklover was summoned to one of the Yerevan police departments to provide explanations. According to the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly, when the activist arrived, Russian law enforcement officers also appeared and tried to persuade him to surrender voluntarily and go with them. Shklover refused.
In Russia, Shklover faces criminal charges for “justifying terrorism” (part 2, article 205.2 of the Criminal Code). The specific reasons for the charges are unknown. The “Russian Diaspora in Armenia” channel wrote that the case is politically motivated and this is why Shklover left Russia.
In 2022, Shklover was prosecuted three times under administrative charges of “inciting hatred” (article 20.3.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences): once over a video containing, in the judge’s view, statements insulting police and civil servants, another time for graffiti on a garage equating the Ministry of Internal Affairs with a swastika, and the third time for a video in which the court found “a statement of superiority of a Caucasus-region woman over a typical Russian woman in terms of lifestyle (behaviour, upbringing).”
A similar situation regarding departing Armenia happened to a teacher from Moscow region, Natalya Taranushenko, who was persecuted in Russia over “military fakes” charges after holding an anti-war classroom event. Taranushenko fled to Armenia, and on 13 July 2024, planned to fly from Yerevan to a European country. At passport control, she was stopped because she too was on the interstate wanted list. On that occasion, she was unable to leave, but according to OVD-Info, Taranushenko later did manage to depart Armenia.