A Perm resident deported from the United States was sentenced in Russia to six years for “justifying terrorism”
A Perm resident deported from the United States was sentenced in Russia to six years for “justifying terrorism”
The case against Perm activist Leonid Melekhin was opened over a post in the Telegram channel “Bobr. There and Back Again (an immigration diary)” belonging to Perm resident Yuri Bobrov, writes Mediazona.
The post contains two photos: Melekhin himself in front of a border crossing from Mexico into the United States, and a photo of a placard with a mannequin on a rope and a photograph of Putin.
V.V. Putin is a murderer, fascist, usurper. All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing / the fascist to the gallows,
the placard says.
Later, another episode was added to the case over an online comment — which specific comment is at issue is unknown.
🔵Melekhin asked for political asylum in the United States in the summer of 2024, but was refused. Until July 2025, he was held in an immigration jail in Arizona, and afterward, according to his lawyer, voluntarily returned to Russia, even though he knew about the criminal prosecution.
Photo: Telegram channel “Bobr.There and Back Again (an immigration diary)”
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Asylum Refusal Ends With Prison
A Perm activist returned from the U.S. and received six years.
The state answered a placard with prison.