You're reading: Diplomat: Granting political asylum to Devyatkin not in Foreign Ministry’s competence

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has said that the question of granting political asylum to foreign citizens is not in its competence, so the ministry is not commenting on the situation with Russian opposition activist Alexei Devyatkin.

“It is not in the competence of the Foreign Ministry. It’s a question to the State Migration Service of Ukraine,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Dykusarov said, while commenting on Other Russia activist Alexei Devyatkin’s request for political asylum in Ukraine.

As reported, on August 13, Alexander Averin, a member of the executive committee and press secretary of the unregistered Other Russia party, said that Devyatkin and his wife, journalist Jenny Kurpen, had applied for refuge in Ukraine fearing prosecution in the wake of the unrest on Moscow’s Bolotnaya Square on May 6.

Devyatkin earlier got a suspended sentence on counts of involvement in mass unrest after he took part in the National Bolsheviks’ action at a presidential reception office.

An authorized March of Millions action, held on Moscow’s Bolotnaya Square on May 6, deteriorated into clashes with police. Opposition blamed police for obstructing the march and a rally, while police said the opposition had staged provocations. Over 400 people were detained in the unrest. About 20,000 activists took part in the action, according to organizers. Police claimed about 8,000 participated in it.