Activist Yuri Kostyuk extradited from Russia to Belarus

Without waiting for the appeal's outcome, court marshals have extradited Yuri Kostyuk, an activist, who had requested asylum in Russia, from Sochi to Belarus. This was reported by the Belarusian "Viasna" (Spring) human rights centre in its Telegram channel.

Yuri Kostyuk, who has asked for asylum in Russia because of his political persecution in Belarus, was extradited to his homeland, the "Full PTs 2.0" Telegram channel has informed.

Yuri had served his term in Belarus for insulting the state symbols and was released on January 6 this year. On February 15, he was detained by KGB (Committee for State Security) agents for his participation in the Telegram chat "Volleyball on Weekends", which united political prisoners. After that, he left for Russia, but was detained at the Sochi Airport.

With the help of an advocate, he applied for refugee status in Russia; and after the refusal to grant him asylum, Yuri decided to appeal against this decision. However, on October 13, court marshals took Yuri to the airport for extradition. At the airport, Yuri tried to injure himself in order to stop "torture and illegal extradition"; then he was returned to the Temporary Detention Centre for Foreign Citizens (TDCFC).

There, after Kostyuk's return from the airport, bruises and beatings were fixed on his body, the "Novaya Gazeta. Europe" has reported, citing the "Civic Assistance" Committee*.

After that, Kostyuk was again taken out of the TDCFC.

Marina Dubrovina, Yuri Kostyuk's advocate, asserts that his extradition is illegal.

In September, the Russian General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) refused to extradite Kostyuk, but immediately after his release, Yuri was detained and brought to administrative responsibility for violating the stay regime. On September 27, the Armavir City Court ruled that Kostyuk be extradited from Russia, the "Country for Life" Fund reported on the Instagram**.