The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported a significant increase in the number of anti-government activists seeking asylum who were repatriated to Russia by Western countries over the past year. The number of repatriations from the United States rose from 222 in 2023 to over 1,200 in 2025, while Germany's repatriations increased from 7 in 2023 to over 110 in 2025. The European Union's approval rate for Russian asylum applications also dropped from 23% in 2024 to approximately 17% in the first nine months of 2025. The report noted that many of these repatriated dissidents face risks of arrest, imprisonment, or forced conscription upon returning home. For example, anti-war activist Leonid Melekhin was sentenced to six years in prison for "justifying terrorism" after his repatriation. Western governments are facing political pressure and security concerns regarding immigration, leading to tighter restrictions on humanitarian programs and asylum seekers.