Press release, 12.08.2015

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin expressed his satisfaction with the fact that Andrei Nekrasov, journalist from Udmuria Republic, Russia, obtained an opportunity to get political asylum in Lithuania. Today Cyprus refused to extradite Nekrasov to Russia and took a decision to return him to Vilnus.

On the threashold YABLOKO published an appeal to Minister of Interior of Cyprus Mr Socrates Hasicos asking him to ensure an impartial investigation of the case in accordance with EU standards and to take into account the Andrei’s application for political asylum due to persecution and threats against him in Udmurtia.

“We hope that on 13 August Andrei Nekrasov will be released from the Cyprus prison and will not be subject to politically motivated extradition,” YABLOKO’s statement ran.

On July 15, oppositional blogger and journalist from Udmurtia was put in prison in Nicosia, Cyprus, in connection with Russia’s request on his extradition. Nekrasov asked for a political asylum.

Cyprus used the norms of the EU law envisaging that the state Nekrasov first got in must examine his appeal of political asylum.

Today Saulius Skvernelis, Interior Minister of Lithuania, stated that the situation with Andrei Nekrasov was in line with the requirement of obtaining political asylum in this country. According to Skvernelis, the Migration Department should adopt the corresponding decision.

Such respected international organisations as Reporters without Borders and French Russie Liberte publicly spoke in defence of Nekrasov.

In Udmurtia Nekrasov is well-known for his investigations of corrupt practices of the regional bureaucracy and functionaries from the ruling party.