In brief
Russia clamps down on dissent, arresting anti‑war blogger Ilya Remeslo and convicting former MP Boris Nadezhdin of extremist symbols, which bars him from collecting signatures for his parliamentary campaign. Remeslo’s March blog post denouncing President Putin prompted pre‑trial detention and a 1,000‑rouble fine. Nadezhdin, who tried to run for president two years earlier on an anti‑war platform, faces a conviction that extends his political imprisonment. Together, these moves underscore the tightening state control over opposition voices amid the Ukraine war.
Russian authorities clamp down on dissent, arresting anti‑war blogger and blocking politician from parliament
Russian officials have intensified their crack‑down on anti‑war sentiment with the arrest of well‑known blogger Ilya Remeslo and the conviction of former MP Boris Nadezhdin for displaying extremist symbols.
Remeslo, who once praised President Vladimir Putin, reversed course in March, calling the leader a “war criminal and thief.” His June blog post titled Five reasons why I stopped supporting Vladimir Putin triggered a pre‑trial detention order and a fine of 1,000 roubles (approximately £9.50).
Nadezhdin, 63, had previously attempted to run for the presidency on an anti‑war platform but was barred after authorities found his support‑signatures flawed. The recent conviction, which carries a fine and bans him from signing for a 2026 parliamentary campaign, also keeps him from leaving Russia.
The moves target the few remaining domestic opposition figures, many of whom now operate in exile. The most prominent, Alexei Navalny, died in a penal colony in February 2024, with western governments asserting he was poisoned.
The crackdown reflects Russia’s broader strategy to silence dissent, combining legal action with the designation of “foreign agents” and the restriction of political participation.
