What happened? ‘Ukrainian spy’ arrested in Budapest requested deportation to Russia
A new twist has emerged in the case of the man dubbed a Ukrainian spy who was arrested in Budapest in May: the court has nullified his deportation order, ruling that authorities should have allowed S. Aleksandrov to leave for Russia, as he had requested.
Wanted to go to Russia, sent to Ukraine instead
S. Aleksandrov, a dual Ukrainian-Russian citizen, was apprehended on 9 May in a commando-style operation on suspicion of espionage. The Counter-Terrorism Centre (TEK) arrested him in Budapest’s Ferenciek Square, and authorities immediately deported him to Ukraine under immigration procedures, even though he wanted to go to Russia using his Russian passport, according to Blikk. Aleksandrov, who previously worked as a diplomat at the Ukrainian Embassy, had lived in Hungary for years, and his family remains in Budapest.
Court says authorities made a mistake
The court clearly stated that authorities made an error by not considering Aleksandrov’s preferred destination. The ruling states that instead of immediate deportation, officials should have allowed him to voluntarily leave the country, specifically to Russia. As a result, the deportation order has been annulled, and a new immigration procedure must now be initiated, 24.hu reports. His attorney, Dr. Gábor Szűcs, told Blikk that although the judge still views his client as a national security risk, the decision nevertheless works in Aleksandrov’s favour.
Born in Crimea, holds Russian passport
The Immigration Office said Aleksandrov previously listed Ukraine as his home country in his residence application and named it a safe third country. However, his attorney argued that the form used did not allow for multiple nationalities to be indicated. Aleksandrov is originally from Crimea, a region treated as Russian territory by Moscow since the occupation. This gives him the right to Russian citizenship, which, according to his lawyer, he intended to exercise upon deportation.
Below is a video of the arrest in Budapest:
New proceedings, ongoing mistrust
Authorities still consider Aleksandrov a national security threat, casting doubt on the outcome of the newly launched immigration process. While the ruling technically allows him to return to Hungary, the government is under no obligation to facilitate that. His family has declined to comment, but according to his legal representative, Aleksandrov remains in a difficult position.
Part of a larger diplomatic dispute
His arrest stems from an earlier diplomatic clash: Ukraine had detained two former soldiers accused of spying for Hungary’s military intelligence. In retaliation, Hungary expelled two Ukrainian diplomats alleged to be spies operating under diplomatic cover in Budapest, prompting a counter-response from Kyiv. Aleksandrov’s detention and deportation appear to be part of that broader tit-for-tat exchange.
Now that the court has annulled his deportation, the question of where S. Aleksandrov can go next, and whether he can stay in any capacity in Hungary, is back on the table.
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