Former General of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Andrei Naumov, who is wanted in his homeland in a case of fraud and abuse, has asked for asylum in one of the G7 countries. He told the BBC Ukrainian service about this.

In an interview, he admitted that in the future he wants to return to Ukraine, but he will do so only at the moment when a fair trial awaits him there. He’s not ready for that right now.

He noted that the presence of a large number of problems in Ukraine does not give him a guarantee of an honest trial. The former SBU general also added that he plans to send an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) because of the events in Ukraine and in connection with the court’s decision in Serbia.

In the summer of 2022, the Serbian police detained Naumov with undeclared cash of about €600 thousand and $ 120 thousand. A criminal case on money laundering was opened against him. Prior to that, the President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, stripped the former general of the SBU of his military rank.

In early December 2023, Naumov was released from a Serbian prison. At the same time, his documents were taken from him and he was forbidden to leave the country. In Ukraine, a criminal case was opened against Naumov under the article on treason. The authorities demanded his extradition, but this was refused.