Russian mathematician and blogger Mikhail Verbitsky has been detained at the Yerevan airport. Russian authorities previously placed him on the wanted list, considering him a terrorist, and may in all likelihood request his extradition.

The Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly in Armenia learned of Verbitsky's arrest. According to the organization, the detention was due to a criminal case opened against the scientist in Russia.

"He is currently in pretrial detention. The extradition issue is pending. According to the law, if Russia requests extradition, he can be detained for 40 days. If the request is not received, he will be released within 72 hours," Vanadzor commented.

Mikhail Verbitsky previously studied in the United States and taught in the Mathematics department of the Higher School of Economics in Russia since 2010. In 2015, he left the country.

In the fall of 2024, criminal proceedings were launched against Verbitsky in Russia on charges of justifying terrorism. The charges may have stemmed from his publications expressing support for Ukraine and criticizing the Russian authorities.

In the winter of 2025, the mathematician was added to the register of terrorists and extremists and placed on the federal wanted list.