Mathematician and creator of the alternative blogging platform lj.rossia.org, Mikhail Verbitsky, has been released from custody in Armenia. He was detained at Yerevan airport on June 12 upon arrival from Poland. Russian authorities had placed him on the wanted list, but the formal extradition request was not submitted within the prescribed timeframe.
Release Mechanism
According to lawyer Vache Simonian, the Armenian authorities released Verbitsky because the Russian prosecution failed to submit an official extradition request within the regulatory deadlines. This procedural failure became the key factor leading to the revocation of the coercive measure.
Verbitsky himself described the details of his detention: he was arrested directly at the airport, handcuffed, and transferred to a detention center. Initially unaware of the reasons, he was soon informed that he was planned for transfer to Russia. The mathematician admitted he knew about the wanted status but did not expect arrest on Armenian territory, where, according to him, extradition for political offenses has not previously been practiced.
Legal Context
In 2024, a criminal case was opened against Verbitsky in Russia under the article on justifying terrorism and inciting terrorist activities. According to sources, the trigger was his statements supporting Ukraine and his doubts regarding the investigation into the "Crocus City Hall" terrorist attack.
Armenia has previously faced similar situations: Russian and Belarusian citizens wanted for political reasons have been detained. However, no successful extraditions to Russia have been recorded—usually, the individuals are released at some stage of the proceedings.
Current Situation
Despite his release, Verbitsky cannot yet leave Armenia. Although he holds a ticket to Israel, he remains on the wanted list, creating obstacles for departure. His next steps depend on the decision of Armenian authorities and a possible change in his status in international wanted databases.
Verbitsky's case demonstrates the complexity of interaction between the legal systems of different countries in the context of politicized cases. It also highlights the role of procedural norms—even with an international wanted status, the absence of a formal request can become the decisive factor for release.