Russian authorities this week ordered the family members of the prominent climate and anti-war activist Arshak Makichyan to leave the country.
Makichyan was stripped of Russian citizenship — the only one he holds — along with his father and a brother in October, a move that the activist and his lawyers labeled as a deliberate attempt to silence Kremlin critics.
The decision to revoke the citizenship of Makichyan and his family members was based on a court ruling claiming they provided false information when applying for Russian citizenship in 2002.
Makichyan and his wife were forced to flee Russia when the invasion of Ukraine began last February. But his family, Armenians who fled the Karabakh war and settled in Russia in 1995, had stayed in the country despite being deprived of their citizenship.
The October ruling was upheld Wednesday at an appeal hearing in the Moscow region, requiring Makichayn’s brother Gagik Makichyan and father Artur Makichyan to leave Russia by Feb. 2 and 4, respectively.
Artur Makichyan was detained on charges of suspected forgery of a photo in his Russian passport immediately after the court hearing. Gagik Makichyan was detained the same day on unspecified charges despite being absent from the hearing, according to Makichyan’s lawyers.
“The citizenship case against me and my family is horrific, the government shouldn’t have the power to cancel activists’ families' lives,” Arshak Makichyan wrote on his Twitter Friday.
“And the silence of European politicians is also disturbing. All terrible things are happening because of the indifference of many,” the activist added.
UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Mar Lawlor called the Russian court’s decision and the news of the arrests of Makichyan’s family “disturbing.”
“I am concerned that this might be a retaliation for his human rights advocacy on climate change and against the war in Ukraine,” said Lawlor.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
