Thread by @khodorkovsky_en

Russian military came to collect deserter Semyon Subbotin from Armenian custody and haul him back to fight in Ukraine — local police saw them and drove him to safety instead.

🧵It's a commendable decision that shows how isolated Putin's regime has become

Subbotin had fled military service and was wanted in Russia for “unauthorized abandonment of a military unit”, or in other words, refusing to take part in the illegal war

He was held in Yerevan for three days, pending possible extradition. But when he was released from detention, Russian soldiers were waiting outside the holding facility

But Armenian police immediately intervened, removing Subbotin from the scene and taking him to a different police station for his protection

According to human rights group Public Verdict, the officers “did everything necessary” to ensure Subbotin wouldn’t end up in the hands of the Russian authorities

Putin wants defectors punished as an example to others. But Armenia’s actions show that his reach has limits, and that even former allies are no longer willing to do the Kremlin’s bidding

This isn’t the first time Armenia has resisted. In 2023, it also released another deserter, Yuri Trostyansky, despite pressure from the regime

Russia now has 40 days to submit a formal extradition request. If it fails, Subbotin will be removed from the international wanted list.

novayagazeta.eu/articles/2025/…