A 68-year-old Russian man who swam to Lithuania to seek asylum has been sentenced to six years in a Russian penal colony after being returned by Lithuanian authorities.

Igor Yuryevich Odintsov, a 68-year-old Russian resident of Neman, has been sentenced to six years in a maximum-security penal colony by the Baltic Fleet Military Court. The sentence follows his failed attempt to seek political asylum in Lithuania, which he reached by swimming across the Nemunas River in September. Lithuanian border guards detained Odintsov shortly after his arrival and subsequently returned him to Russia, citing a lack of sufficient grounds for asylum.

The Asylum Attempt and Return

Odintsov crossed the Nemunas River into Lithuania on September 17 to escape potential prosecution in Russia. Lithuanian border guards detained him at approximately 1:50 p.m. that day. According to Giedrius Mišutis, a spokesperson for Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service, authorities determined there was no evidence he faced immediate danger or qualified as a vulnerable person. Consequently, the state decided not to admit him to the European Union, citing inconsistent information and potential security concerns.

Legal Proceedings in Russia

The Russian military court convicted Odintsov of "publicly justifying terrorism" under Part 2 of Article 205.2 of the Russian Criminal Code. The court's press release stated that the defendant held a negative attitude toward Russian state authorities and opposed the war in Ukraine. Following his return to Russia, Odintsov was detained on September 21, and the court handed down his sentence on September 30. In addition to the prison term, he is barred from administering websites or online channels for three years.