Western nations increasingly deport Russian dissidents back to Moscow

A former Russian asylum seeker, referred to as Katya, was expelled from the United States and intercepted by FSB officers upon arrival in Moscow, where male deportees were handed military paperwork. Her testimony, corroborated by other passengers, matches a pattern of rising deportations: the United States removed more than 1,200 Russians in 2025, up from 222 the year before, and Germany increased its expulsions from seven to over 110 between 2023 and 2025.

Across the EU, the share of Russian asylum seekers granted protection has dropped from 29% in 2023 to under 7% in early 2025, prompting NGOs to advise dissidents to seek refuge outside Europe. Cases like anti-war activist Leonid Melekhin, sentenced to six years for “justifying terrorism,” underscore the severe penalties awaiting returnees. Former soldier Artyom, who deserted in 2022, was also deported despite evidence of a criminal investigation in Russia and now lives in hiding abroad. The tightening of asylum rules reflects growing political pressure in the West to curb immigration and address security concerns, leaving many Russian opponents of the war with limited safe havens.