Russian, who refused to fight against Ukraine, wins Bulgarian asylum bid

Russian citizen Alexander Stotzky, who participated in many protests against President Vladimir Putin and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, was finally granted refugee status in Bulgaria on Friday after being repeatedly refused asylum under the ruling that there was no real danger waiting for him in Russia.

In order to get refugee status, Stotzky fought a long legal battle against the State Agency for Refugees (SAR). He is afraid to return to his homeland because he thinks he will be sent to prison or the front in Ukraine. He claims that while he was in Russia, he participated in several protests against the government and was an observer of the Russian Duma elections at the headquarters of Moscow’s opposition politicians.

In Sofia, he also participated in demonstrations against the Russian aggression in Ukraine. “I declare against the aggressive actions of the Russian Federation in the face of the dictator Putin. I am against the war because it is against my moral principles,” he explained to journalists in March 2022.

“Justice has prevailed – thanks to the reaction of the Bulgarian society, which has not been removed, and of course the work of the independent media, which really works here [freedom of speech is a very important right]. My activity did not end there: the war in Ukraine, unfortunately, continues; Repression in Russia is repeatedly intensified, so there is always something to do”, Stotzky wrote on Facebook. The man thanked everyone for their support and ended his post: Glory to Ukraine! Freedom for Russia.

The initial refusal of the SAR was appealed by Stotzky, but he lost the case in two instances – before the Administrative Court in Sofia and then before the Supreme Court. The prosecutor’s office also opposes the Russians’ refugee status request. In May, the Supreme Administrative Court decided there was no real danger for Stotzky in Russia.

After the SAR’s refusal, which was also confirmed by the court amid public outrage at the authorities’ decision, Stotzky submitted a new asylum application. This time, however, the agency decided that the Russian has the legal prerequisites for being granted refugee status.

(Krassen Nikolov | EURACTIV.bg)