A court in Kazakhstan’s largest city Almaty has ordered Yakutian anti-war activist and musician Aykhal Ammosov to one year of extradition arrest, his lawyer said on social media.
“I’m not surprised [by this decision],” Ammosov’s lawyer Murat Adam wrote on Instagram on Thursday.
Ammosov, a Russian national hailing from the republic of Sakha (Yakutia), was arrested and sent to a detention center in Almaty in October in connection with an extradition request issued by Russian authorities.
At home, 31-year-old Ammosov is accused of “incitement to commit acts of terrorism” — a crime punishable by up to seven years in prison.
Earlier this month, Kazakh authorities granted Ammosov asylum-seeker status, which means his extradition to Russia will not be legally possible until the final decision on his asylum application is made.
Lawyer Murat Adam confirmed on social media that he will move to appeal the Thursday court ruling.
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.