Russian activist Leonid Melekhin sentenced to six years after denied U.S. asylum
Leonid Melekhin, a Perm businessman and activist, received a six-year prison term for allegedly justifying terrorism after his U.S. asylum request was rejected and he was deported back to Russia.
Leonid Melekhin, a businessman and activist from Perm, was sentenced by a Russian court to six years in prison on charges of justifying terrorism. Prosecutors cited a Telegram post and an online comment that displayed a sign labeling President Vladimir Putin a murderer, fascist and usurper, and urging action against him. Melekhin had left Russia in 2024 seeking political asylum in the United States, where he was detained in an immigration facility and ultimately denied asylum in the summer of 2025.
Following his deportation, he re-entered Russia voluntarily, despite knowing he could face criminal charges. His court-appointed lawyer confirmed the “self-deportation” and the pending prosecution. The case highlights the Russian authorities’ use of terrorism-related statutes against political dissenters.
