Anti-Putin activist seeks political asylum in Latvia

According to Latvian Daily, Dmitry Savin, a nationalist opposition activist from Russia, is seeking political asylum in Latvia.

The paper cites Savin as saying Russian authorities have been persecuting him because of his criticism over the annexation of Crimea.

According to the report published in the Latvian newspaper, Savin's asylum request, which the Latvian State Border Guard received a week ago, is now being reviewed by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.

Undine Priekule, a spokeswoman for the Latvian migration authority, explained that the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs reviews asylum requests for six to nine months on average.

She added there is a possibility to appeal asylum denials.

Savin moved to Latvia shortly after a search was conducted at his apartment in March, 2015. 

The Russian opposition activist settled in the southwestern Latvian city of Liepaja and has now applied for political asylum.