Belarus refused to extradite an extremist at the request of the Russian Federation
Belarus refused to extradite Nikolai Makhalichev, a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses sect, to Russia.
This was reported by "Belorusskie Novosti", as reported by a correspondent of "PolitNavigator".
Makhalichev, who is on the international wanted list at the request of Russia for financing an extremist organization, was detained in February in Vitebsk and spent 40 days in a pre-trial detention center. Documents were requested from Russia, on the basis of which the General Prosecutor's Office of Belarus decided to release the sectarian.
Makhalichev plans to obtain refugee status in Belarus; he wrote a corresponding statement on the day of his arrest, February 21, 2020, in Gorodok (Vitebsk region).
Jehovah's Witnesses are registered in Belarus under the Commissioner for Religious Affairs and Nationalities. 27 of their communities function unhindered in the country and congresses are held, which are attended by sectarians from Russia.
Read on the topic: A banned sect continues to infiltrate Russia from its allied territory, Belarus.
Belarus refused to extradite an extremist at Russia's request.