Dr. Bains’ bill to protect residents from transnational repression clears Public Safety Committee

“My story underscores the pressing need for legislative action to safeguard California residents from international oppression. This bill would become a powerful signal and deterrent sent to totalitarian regimes that the persecution of Californians will not be met with impunity,” Duralev said in a prepared statement.

The US Is Trying To Deport A Russian Political Dissident Back To Moscow

“My case was denied at all levels because the U.S. government has reason to believe I committed the crime because of [the] Interpol notice from Russia,” said Duralev. “Like the Interpol notice from Russia is the most probative and reliable document in the world.”

He fought corruption in Russia. ICE wants to deport him.

“DHS has acted no better than the Russian authorities,” Duralev said. “They simply fabricated charges against me for violations I never committed — and if DHS can trump up charges against immigrants with impunity, nobody can guarantee they won’t start doing it” to regular Americans. “So that’s the main message I now hope to send.”

ICE reportedly relied on a 'politically motivated' request from the Kremlin to try to deport a Russian asylum seeker legally staying in the US

Still, legal experts told Politico that Duralev's case is part of a disturbing trend of US law enforcement using the notices to deport immigrants, with one saying it risked making the US "a willing participant in Russia’s persecution of dissidents."