Ilya Yashin Deported From Russia Against His Will

Russian activist Ilya Yashin, detained for supporting the war in Ukraine, claims he was deported against his will in a prisoner exchange. Yashin, who labels himself a patriot, refused to request clemency from President Putin, warning this could lead to more political prisoners.

Russian activist Ilya Yashin, who was jailed for supporting the war in Ukraine, declared he had not consented to his deportation from Russia in a prisoner exchange.

Speaking to reporters in Bonn, Yashin emphasized, "I did not give my consent to being sent outside of Russia. What happened on August 1 is not an exchange. This is my expulsion from Russia against my will."

Showing visible signs of anger, Yashin spoke in a minutes-long address, during which he stated he had refused to sign a clemency request to President Vladimir Putin. "I am a patriot," he asserted.