Kalmyk activist leaves Russia after being fined for his pacifist calls

Arslang Sandjiev, the chair of the Congress and the Executive Committee of the Congress of the Oirat-Kalmyk People, who was fined twice for his pacifist calls, moved to the United States.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on May 20, it became known that the Supreme Court (SC) of Kalmykia upheld the second fine against Arslang Sandjiev, the chair of the Congress and the Executive Committee of the Congress of the Oirat-Kalmyk People, for calling against the special military operation in Ukraine.

In April, a court approved the first fine imposed on Arslang Sandjiev under the article on discrediting the Russian Armed Forces. The fines were imposed on Arslang Sandjiev for the appeals of the Executive Committee of the Congress of the Oirat-Kalmyk People posted on the social media on March 7 and 10, urging compatriots not to participate in the special military operation in Ukraine and calling for the special military operation to be stopped.

Arslang Sandjiev reported that he left Russia because of his pacifist position and the persecution of the authorities. “Altan Ochirov, a member of our congress, has been sentenced to three years of imprisonment in the case on ‘fakes,’ and other activists are being persecuted. In Russia, it is no longer possible to tell the truth, and we could not remain silent,” emphasized Arslang Sandjiev as quoted by the “Kavkaz.Realii”*.

The 62-year-old activist explained that he moved through Mexico to the United States, and now his migration case is to be considered by a US court. Arslang Sandjiev has also emphasized that he does not want to live abroad and wants to return “to the renewed Russia” as soon as possible, the “Kavkaz.Realii”* reports.

*The publication has been included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of the foreign media, performing the functions of a foreign agent.