Russian man swims from Kaliningrad to Lithuania seeking asylum, gets sent back to Russia

Source: Lrytas

Lithuania’s border service detained a Russian citizen who swam across the Neman River seeking political asylum and sent him back to Russia, according to a report by the Lithuanian news outlet Lrytas.

The State Border Guard Service (VSAT) told the news outlet BNC the man was taken into custody on September 17 on the bank of the Neman River at around 1:50 p.m. Lrytas reported he is 60 years old; BNC put his age at 68.

During questioning, the man told Internal Affairs Ministry and border service officials that he was being persecuted in Russia over “activity on social media.” Lithuanian authorities, including the State Security Department, decided that same day to return him to the Kaliningrad region via the Panemunė checkpoint.

“There was no information indicating he faced any danger, held any special status, or might be admitted to the European Union, and he does not fall into a vulnerable category. It was decided not to let this person in,” a VSAT representative said.

At Meduza, we are committed to transparency about our use of artificial intelligence in the newsroom. The story you’re reading was written by one of our living, breathing journalists and translated from Russian using an AI model configured to follow our strict editorial standards. This translation process is the result of extensive testing and refinements to ensure our English-language coverage is timely and accurate. A Meduza editor reviews every draft before publication.

If you find any errors in this translation, please contact us at reports@meduza.io.

To read Meduza’s exclusive content in English, please subscribe to our newsletter.

Why is it
important
to support
Meduza
now?Read here

Russian man swims from Kaliningrad to Lithuania seeking asylum, gets sent back to Russia

{{ header_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }}

{{ title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }}

{{ second_title }}

Russian man swims from Kaliningrad to Lithuania seeking asylum, gets sent back to Russia

{{{ alt }}}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }}

{{ title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }}

{{ second_title }}