Armenia Releases Former “Golos” Coordinator Wanted Under Russia’s Foreign-Agent Law

Former coordinator of the Pskov branch of the election-monitoring movement Golos, Vladimir Zhilinsky, has been released in Armenia, Orda.kz reports, citing Novaya Gazeta.

He is no longer being held at the detention facility in Noyemberyan, Arthur Sakunts, head of the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly.

Zhilinsky had told SOTA that he was detained because he was wanted in Russia under the “foreign agent” article. 

According to Sakunts, authorities found no legal grounds to continue holding him:

Article under which Russia opened a criminal case against Zhilinsky does not exist in Armenia’s Criminal Code, and the alleged act is not a criminal offense here, he said.

Sakunts added that Armenia should suspend its obligations under the CIS Minsk and Bishkek conventions, which govern legal cooperation with Moscow.

According to lawyer Mikhail Benyash, the former Golos coordinator had recently been living in Georgia and likely entered Armenia for a short visa-run trip to renew his permitted length of stay.

Zhilinsky plans to return to Georgia soon, and said Armenian security officials promised to inform border guards so they would not block his departure.