On August 8, a Venezuelan court approved Russia's extradition request for anti-war campaigner Leonid Zakamaldin, who faces charges of "state treason" in Russia, according to Vot Tak.
Reports indicate that while Zakamaldin's legal team has lodged an appeal, the activist fears he may be deported before the appeal is processed. His lawyers have also sought a medical evaluation as a humanitarian intervention to halt extradition—Zakamaldin suffered acute heart failure during his detention.
Speaking through his attorney, Zakamaldin criticized the ruling: "Judges and officials recognize this violates Venezuela's constitution and international agreements. They’ve privately admitted to my lawyer they’re ashamed of this verdict."
A Chelyabinsk native of Ukrainian descent, Zakamaldin relocated to Ukraine in 2014 opposing Crimea's annexation. Following Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine revoked his residency, froze his assets, and confiscated three apartments. Seeking legal recourse, he engaged a fraudulent "Venezuelan citizenship consultant" to secure a passport that would restore his Ukrainian status and unfreeze his property.
In June 2024, Venezuelan authorities arrested Zakamaldin at Caracas airport on Russia's warrant, initially citing "incitement to extremism." By July 2025, his family discovered Moscow had escalated the charges to "state treason."
The case stems from Zakamaldin’s blog posts condemning the war, including assertions that Crimea belongs to Ukraine, demands for Putin to face trial, and calls for Russian liberation.