The lawmaker, Illia Kyva, called for Ukraine to surrender after Russia invaded. He was living in Russia, but Ukrainian authorities had sentenced him to prison in absentia on charges including treason.
Tag: Defectors (Political)
Viktor Belenko, Who Defected to the West in a Jet Fighter, Dies at 76
Among the highest-profile figures to flee the Soviet Union, he brought with him a secret weapon and firsthand experience behind the Iron Curtain.
North Korea May Have Seen Little Benefit in Keeping Travis King
Why did the North expel Pvt. Travis T. King, rather than use him for its own purposes? Analysts say he was probably considered more of a burden than an asset.
Travis King, Soldier Who Crossed North Korean Border, Is Back in U.S. Custody
Pvt. Travis T. King dashed across the inter-Korean Demilitarized Zone in July. North Korea expelled him after finding him guilty of “illegally intruding” into its territory.
What Will Happen to Pvt. Travis T. King in North Korea?
It may take days or weeks for the country to acknowledge that it has Pvt. Travis T. King in custody, and past practices suggest its response will be determined by Mr. King’s motive.
Defecting From North Korea Is Now Far Harder
Recent rescue efforts to escape Kim Jong-un’s regime via China have been thwarted by digital surveillance, profiteering and the pandemic.
Russia Sought to Assassinate an Informant in the U.S.
A failed plot to assassinate a C.I.A. spy in 2020 in part led to expulsions of the agency’s chief in Moscow and his Russian counterpart in Washington.
Droves of Imran Khan’s Allies Defect as Military Ramps Up Crackdown
More than 100 key allies of Mr. Khan have left his party in recent weeks as Pakistan’s military tries to sideline the former leader.
A Wagner Fighter’s Escape to Norway Creates a Problem for His Host
Andrei Medvedev fought with Russia’s Wagner mercenaries in Ukraine, then requested asylum in Norway. The authorities there must now weigh his plea against solidarity with Ukraine.
Are North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons Tests as Safe as the Country Claims?
The country has conducted six underground nuclear tests, and a seventh may be on the way. Rights groups fear their environmental and health consequences.