NEWS: Petition for Our Student Ilia Shkolnyi

Background

Ilia Shkolnyi is a Russian opposition activist who is facing deportation to Russia. He fled his home country in 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Due to his involvement with the Russian opposition and the movement led by Alexei Navalny, he faces the risk of politically motivated persecution if returned to Russia.

Ilia Shkolnyi is married to a German citizen and is about to complete his Master's degree at the University of Bayreuth. He speaks seven languages fluently and is regarded not only as a highly qualified graduate but also as an outstanding example of successful and rapid integration into German society.

His deportation would endanger his personal safety and ultimately benefit the Russian authoritarian regime. It would also undermine Germany's commitment to providing protection for Russian conscientious objectors and political dissidents.

On 31 March 2026, Ilia Shkolnyi was released from immigration detention. However, his case remains unresolved, and efforts to secure him a permanent residence permit in Germany are ongoing.

The case has received extensive media coverage, including reports by Der Spiegel, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), and the Nordbayerischer Kurier.