A Russian man swam to Lithuania to seek asylum. He was sent back to Russia, where he was sentenced to six years in prison.
The Baltic Fleet Military Court sentenced Igor Odintsov, a 68-year-old Russian national, to six years in prison. In September, Odintsov swam from Russia’s Kaliningrad region to Lithuania along the Neman River and requested political asylum, but Lithuanian border guards sent him back to Russia.
According to Lithuanian prosecutors, a 68-year-old Russian man named Igor Odintsov was sentenced to six years in prison for allegedly calling for terrorist activity on social media. In September, Odintsov swam from Russia's Kaliningrad region to Lithuania, requesting political asylum along the Neman River. However, Lithuanian border guards sent him back to Russia.
After he fled to Lithuania, the legal proceedings against him were suspended on September 17. Odintsov was detained again on September 21, and a verdict was handed down on September 30. Despite his claims of persecution, Odintsov was deemed to have vague statements about his situation, with no evidence of any danger or special status.
Lithuanian Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas confirmed that Odintsov was sent back despite his request for asylum.
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