Russians who fled the war are being sent back by the West

Removals of Russians from the US rose from 222 in 2023 to more than 1,200 in 2025. Activists say the deportees included dissidents and army deserters, some jailed or sent to war after their return.

Russian asylum claims approved in Germany, Jan to Nov 2025

6.8 %

Germany deported seven Russians in 2023 and more than 110 in 2025. The share of Russian asylum claims it approved fell from 29 per cent in 2023 to 6.8 per cent in the first 11 months of 2025.

Anti-war activist Leonid Melekhin was deported from the US last year after posting that Putin was a murderer. In Russia he was charged with justifying terrorism and sentenced to six years in prison.

Political prisoners on Memorial's list, 2025

1,265 political prisoners

The Russian rights group Memorial says its list of political prisoners grew from 803 to 1,265 during 2025, a record increase.