NSLAC’s client is a Russian refugee who was forced to flee his home country due to persecution tied to his political opinions and close work with the Alexei Navalny organization. For years, the client actively supported opposition parties in Russia despite repeated arrests and imprisonment for his political involvement. During one of his final imprisonments, he was placed in solitary confinement for five days and was not permitted to leave his cell, even for the one hour per day typically required. As police and government threats against him escalated, the client made the difficult decision to flee Russia in search of safety.
The client entered the United States in late 2022 and was referred to NSLAC by another nonprofit organization for full representation in connection with his potential asylum claim. The client’s case remained pending before the Executive Office of Immigration Review (Court) for three years while NSLAC attorneys developed his case and supporting materials in preparation for a hearing. As part of that preparation, NSLAC attorneys submitted a legal brief and supporting evidence packet to the Court totaling nearly 700 pages. The evidence detailed Russia’s designation of the Navalny organization as an extremist and terrorist entity, as well as the severe consequences faced by those connected to the group, including imprisonment, torture, beatings, and death.
Through the client’s perseverance and extensive preparation with NSLAC attorneys, NSLAC’s attorneys demonstrated that the client had a well-founded fear of future persecution due to his political activities and continued affiliation with the Navalny organization. With the submitted evidence and vigorous in person advocacy at the April 2026 hearing, NSLAC attorneys secured a grant of asylum for the client.
As a result, the client no longer faces the threat of returning to Russia, where he would likely face imprisonment or worse. Instead, he can safely remain in the United States, apply for a green card in one year, and eventually pursue United States citizenship while continuing to build a stable future free from persecution.
