Deserter kidnapped in Armenia claims he wants to return to Russia

In Armenia, human rights activists secured a meeting with Russian citizen Anatoly Shchetinin, who the day before in the city of Gyumri was detained as an army deserter by Russian military police.

Lawyer of the Center for International Defense Narek Hakobyan and expert of the human rights organization “Public Verdict” Hasmik Novikova met with Shchetinin on the territory of the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri, where he is being held. According to them, the detained Russian statedthat he “realized everything”, does not need help and wants to return to Russia. He did not say whether pressure was put on him after the arrest.

Also, according to Shchetinin, the criminal case in Russia against him, according to the investigator, was allegedly closed. Human rights activists have no confirmation of this information.

Shchetinin also said that they had already tried to take him home, but when crossing the border they were refused by the Armenian border guards. Subsequently, the publication “Important Stories” reportedthat the reason for the refusal is that Shchetinin is wanted in Russia. Permission for him to be taken out of the country is said to have to be given by the Minister of Justice of Armenia.

The day before, the Armenian branch of the human rights organization Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly declared the illegality of Shchetinin’s abduction and appealed to the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia with a demand to prevent the removal of the Russian, to release him, and to bring to justice those who detained him.

“Mediazona” with reference to Shchetinin’s acquaintances writesthat he lived illegally in Armenia and wanted to return to Russia, but he did not have money for a ticket.

Presumably, he served in the Russian army under a contract and moved to Armenia about six months ago, having previously deserted from his unit when the commanders started talking about an imminent deployment to the war in Ukraine. He was put on the wanted list in Russia.

Previously Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly reported about mass surveillance in Armenia of Russian citizens who left their country for political reasons. In December, Dmitry Setrakov, a former military man who had evaded participation in the war against Ukraine, was also detained in Armenia by Russian military police. He was also taken to the territory of the Russian military base in Gyumri, after which he was taken to Russia. This is the first known case of this kind.