According to the channel, Timofeyev arrived in Georgia on March 28, 2024, and immediately applied for asylum, citing political persecution in Russia. Georgian authorities denied the request in December 2024, after which Timofeyev appealed the decision in court. The BBC Russian Service said that Timofeyev’s lawyer provided documentation confirming that Interpol cancelled the request in September 2025 after finding the Russian charges unmotivated. Memorial” recognized Furgal as a political prisoner in 2024, citing signs of evidence falsification and serious violations of the right to a fair trial. Timofeyev has reportedly sought protection abroad since 2020, first fleeing to China, then attempting to obtain asylum in Thailand, before arriving in Georgia.