Russian fleeing military service faces deportation from Lithuania back to Russia

Russian citizen Daniil Mukhammetov, who fled military service in June 2025, faces deportation from Lithuania and possible return to Russia. After his asylum applications were rejected in Finland and France, the Strasbourg Administrative Court will decide on 17 June 2026 whether to send him back to Lithuania. Lithuania could then return him to Russia, where he faces criminal charges for evading military service.

Russian citizen Daniil Mukhammetov, who jumped from a transit train bound for Kaliningrad from Adler in June 2025 onto Lithuanian territory, now faces serious risk of being deported back to Russia via France. French newspaper Le Monde reports on the case.

Flight and asylum applications

After jumping from the train, Mukhammetov headed to Finland, where he applied for asylum. Finnish authorities rejected his application, citing the EU asylum law's so-called first country of entry rule, under which an asylum seeker must file an application in the first EU country they enter. Finnish immigration authorities ordered Mukhammetov returned to Lithuania.

Lithuanian authorities in turn stated that the man had violated the terms of using a simplified transit document, a violation punishable by fine and expulsion.

France and the Strasbourg court hearing

In December 2025, Mukhammetov moved to France and filed a new asylum application there. French authorities also applied the first country of entry rule and asked Lithuania whether it was willing to take over the case. Lithuania agreed.

The Strasbourg Administrative Court will hold a hearing on 17 June 2026 to decide whether Mukhammetov will be sent to Lithuania. According to his lawyer, however, there is a significant risk that Lithuania will send the man on to Russia. The lawyer also drew attention to the fact that some Lithuanian media outlets have referred to Mukhammetov as a "Russian saboteur". In his view, France has the right to examine the case itself, without sending the man back to Lithuania.

Criminal liability awaits in Russia

According to Le Monde, Mukhammetov faces criminal prosecution in Russia for evading military service. Additionally, his public anti-war statements put him at further risk, making his return even more dangerous.