Anatoly Shchetinin, detained by Russian military police in Armenian Gyumri, is still in Armenia. The country's authorities do not allow him to be deported to the Russian Federation, where he faces criminal charges for desertion and refusal of military service.

Human rights activists came to the former military man, but he told them that he allegedly wanted to return to Russia and did not need any help. Visitors suggested that the man said this because he was under pressure.

As noted by the head of the Vanadzor branch of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly (HCA), Artur Sakunts, Shchetinin has already been prevented from leaving Armenia twice. The refusal is due to the fact that the former military man is wanted in Russia. For his deportation, permission from the Minister of Justice of Armenia is required.

“The Russian investigator assured Shchetinin that after returning to Russia the criminal case against him would be closed. Currently it is not closed,” Sakunts said.

Earlier, he noted that law enforcement officers of the Russian Federation, violating the legislation of Armenia, carry out illegal activities, kidnap a person, keep him in an illegal prison and try to transfer him to the Russian Federation.

This is the second known case of the kidnapping of a deserted Russian military man in Armenia. In December 2023, Dmitry Setrakov was detained, who escaped after mobilization and refusal to participate in the SVO. Later he was deported to Rostov. Arthur Sakunts stated that the Russian military police do not have the right to detain even Russian citizens in Armenia; only Armenian law enforcement agencies can do this.