Türkiye deports Russian activist wanted for anti-war protest
The Turkish authorities have deported Russian anti-war activist Ariadna Litvinova, who faces charges of “discrediting” the army back in Russia, according to the outlet Vot Tak and the Prison Lawyer human rights project.
The deportation reportedly took place on Saturday, when Litvinova was flown to Moscow's Vnukovo Airport. Lawyers from Prison Lawyer told Vot Tak she is likely being transported to St. Petersburg for pretrial detention, but that they have so far been unable to reach her.
The charges against Litvinova stem from an anti-war protest she staged on 24 February 2025, when she wrote the words “Murderers. Peace to Ukraine. Freedom for political prisoners” across an outdoor pro-war photo exhibition in St. Petersburg. She was detained shortly afterward, fined 50,000 rubles (€570) for “discrediting” the army, and charged with criminal vandalism.
A court initially ordered her held in pretrial detention before replacing it with a “ban on certain activities”; the charge was later reclassified from vandalism to “discrediting” the army. In late August 2025, Litvinova left Russia for Turkey, where her father lives.
Litvinova previously studied at a police college, but left in 2023. She said the reason was the increase in pro-war propaganda.
