Pro-Russian journalist Yuri Alekseyev has received refugee status in Belarus on the day of his 67th birthday. He announced the news on Facebook, posting a photo of his refugee ID and the order granting him the status, signed by Ivan Novikau, head of the Citizenship and Migration Department.
“I order: To grant Alekseyev Yuri, born in 1958, a citizen of the Republic of Latvia, refugee status in the Republic of Belarus in accordance with Part One of Article 19 of the Law, as the applicant has well-founded fears of persecution in his country of citizenship on the basis of his political beliefs and does not wish to seek protection from that state,” the document reads.
Alekseyev commented: “Got a birthday present. Congratulations welcome!”
Yuri Alekseyev. Photo: t.me/alekseystefanov
In October 2024 it was reported that the 66-year-old former head of IMHOKlub and editor-in-chief of Imhoclub.lv had fled to Belarus. Latvian police had repeatedly described Imhoclub.lv as a website that “plays a certain role in strengthening Russia’s information influence in Latvia”.
Yuri Alekseyev was mentioned in public reports by Latvia’s State Security Service as a pro-Kremlin activist. He had been convicted in Latvia for illegal possession of ammunition. His final sentence was one year and two months in prison, followed by one year of probation supervision. The court also ordered his pre-trial detention.