Armenia Refuses to Extradite US Citizen Wanted in Russia

Armenia has refused to extradite a US citizen who is wanted in Russia. After three years of asylum in Armenia, he has returned to Ohio.

Eric Thomas Krimer told Mediazone that he received a call from a local television station for an interview, and then from the embassy, where he was informed that "the issue will be resolved."

"They said that important negotiations had taken place and that they would not be able to send me to Russia," said the wanted US citizen.

According to him, in the spring of 2017, while teaching English, law enforcement authorities had planted drugs on him. Krimer was released on a signature not to leave and fled to Russia, where he ended up on an international wanted list. In 2021, he came to Armenia and was not allowed to leave the country by border guards, though he was not arrested.