Russian mathematician wanted on terrorism charges detained in Armenia

Russian mathematician and blogger Mikhail "Misha" Verbitsky, who is wanted by Moscow on terrorism-related charges, has been detained at Yerevan's Zvartnots International Airport, Armenian police said on Saturday (July 13).

Verbitsky is currently being held in a detention facility at the airport, according to information provided to a Russian newspaper by Armenian authorities.

The detention raises the possibility that Russia could seek his extradition. Moscow has designated Verbitsky as a terrorist and extremist and has placed him on a wanted list.

In January 2025, Russia's financial watchdog, Rosfinmonitoring, added Verbitsky to its register of terrorists and extremists. Around the same time, Russia's Interior Ministry announced that he was being sought in connection with a criminal case.

Russian law enforcement authorities have accused Verbitsky of publicly inciting terrorism, a charge that carries a prison sentence of up to seven years under Russian law.

It was not immediately clear whether Russia had formally requested his extradition or whether Armenian authorities had initiated any related legal proceedings.

According to publicly available information, Verbitsky previously taught at the Faculty of Mathematics at the Higher School of Economics, one of Russia's leading universities.

By Aghakazim Guliyev