Daniil Mukhametov fled Russia for Europe to avoid serving in the army. He faces de...

Daniil Mukhametov fled from Russia to Europe to avoid serving in the army. He faces deportation

In June 2025, Mukhametov jumped off the Adler-Kaliningrad transit train while it was passing through Lithuanian territory. The Russian national made his way to Finland and applied for asylum there. But the Finnish authorities rejected him. They ordered the Russian national deported back to Lithuania, where Mukhametov was at risk of expulsion for violating entry rules.

In December 2025, Le Monde writes, Mukhametov moved to France, where he again filed an asylum request. The French authorities cited the "first border crossing rule" (an asylum request must be filed in the first European Union country where the applicant arrived). They asked Lithuania whether it was prepared to consider Mukhametov's application. Lithuania agreed.

In the opinion of the lawyer representing the Russian national, there is a high risk that Lithuania will decide to deport him to the Russian Federation. France, the lawyer believes, has the option of considering the application within its own jurisdiction.

The decision on whether to send Mukhametov to Lithuania or not is to be made by the Administrative Court of Strasbourg at a hearing on June 17.

In Russia, Mukhametov faces criminal prosecution for evading military service and for his anti-war stance.

@meduzalive