US nearing deal with Russia to free multiple jailed Americans: Sources
Sources say the talks have centered on freeing Stephen Hubbard.
Russian pensioner Igor Odintsov, 68, swam to Lithuania in an attempt to seek asylum but was later handed back to Russia, where he was sentenced to six years in prison. In a letter to Alyona Dergachyova, a former journalist, Odintsov stated that he clearly informed Lithuanian border guards that he was seeking political asylum under Article 205.2, Part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code.
He claimed that he was never given the chance to submit a written application for asylum. Lithuanian border guards and the interior minister previously stated that Odintsov did not clearly and understandably express his asylum request. Odintsov, who now resides in Pretrial Detention Center No. 1 in Kaliningrad, wrote that he was only given minimal clothing and questioned, with no explanation of when he crossed the border.
Despite his efforts, Odintsov emphasized his frustration at having taken the dangerous swim without researching Lithuania's migration policy. His case highlights the trend of Eastern European countries turning back political asylum seekers from Russia and Belarus at the border, often resulting in "pushbacks."
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