Mikhail Verbitsky, a renowned Russian mathematician, was arrested in Armenia last week, with Russia seeking his extradition on charges of inciting terrorism. Verbitsky, who was in Armenia for a high school graduation, is known for his work in complex geometry and his critical political blog against Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The math community, which has been critical of Russia since the invasion, rallied for his release, with many signing petitions. The French Mathematical Society urged Armenia not to extradite him, and reports suggest that Armenian authorities have temporarily released Verbitsky, refusing Russia’s request.
QUESTION: How might the international response to Verbitsky’s arrest influence future actions by countries regarding political dissent?
Russia seeks mathematician’s extradition
