PoliticsDenied asylum in the U.S., imprisoned in Russia: Activist Leonid Melekhin gets six years for ‘justifying terrorism’
A court sentenced Perm businessman and activist Leonid Melekhin to six years in prison for “justifying terrorism,” according to Mediazona. The case involved a Telegram post and an online comment, including a photograph of a sign calling Putin a murderer, fascist, and usurper. Melekhin sought asylum in the U.S. in 2024, was denied in summer 2025, and was later deported to Russia.
MMeduza★★★☆☆2026-10-05 16:41Original
Denied asylum in the U.S., imprisoned in Russia: Activist Leonid Melekhin gets six years for ‘justifying terrorism’