Russia: Navalny associate says he did not get political asylum in U.K.
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 16 February 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russia: Navalny associate says he did not get political asylum in U.K., 16 February 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/550940b71b.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
February 16, 2015
A close associate of top Russian opposition figure Aleksei Navalny has denied earlier reports that he had been granted political asylum in Britain.
Vladimir Ashurkov, the executive director of Navalny's anticorruption foundation, told the Dozhd-TV online channel on February 16 that the statement by his common-law wife's lawyer about his having received asylum in the UK are not true.
Ashurkov confirmed that he has applied for asylum in Britain, but said a decision is still pending.
Earlier, on February 16, lawyer Aleksandr Salnikov told reporters in Moscow that U.K. authorities had granted Ashurkov asylum.
Ashurkov, a former banker, helped Navalny expose corruption among the elite and worked on Navalny's campaign for Moscow mayor in 2013.
In June, the Investigative Committee issued an arrest warrant for Ashurkov and charged two other Navalny allies with alleged fraud linked to the financing of the mayoral campaign.
Based on reporting by TASS, tvrain.ru and Interfax
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
