Moscow, Russia. Russian authorities have detained blogger Ilya Remeslo, who criticised President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine, and fined anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin ahead of September’s parliamentary election.
The measures come as Putin and the ruling United Russia party face pressure amid an economic slowdown and fuel shortages linked to Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries.
Remeslo detention
Remeslo was detained on Friday on suspicion of spreading false information about the Russian army, the TASS state news agency reported.
Previously a pro-Kremlin figure, he published a manifesto in March titled “Five reasons why I stopped supporting Vladimir Putin”, which went viral on social media. He was subsequently admitted to a psychiatric hospital, where he spent about a month.
TASS reported that Remeslo could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Action against Nadezhdin
Separately, Nadezhdin, who attempted to run against Putin in the 2024 presidential election on an anti-war platform, was fined 1,000 roubles, or $13, for displaying what authorities described as extremist symbols.
The fine was symbolic, but formed part of a series of measures against Nadezhdin that could indicate more serious consequences if he continues to criticise the government on issues including the war, which he this week called a “completely senseless fratricidal war”.
The 63-year-old liberal, who served as a member of parliament from 1999 to 2003, was designated a “foreign agent” last Friday. The label, which carries Soviet-era connotations of spying, bars him from holding political office.
Nadezhdin was detained and questioned on Monday and was later prohibited from leaving Russia.
Kremlin position
The Kremlin says strict censorship laws are necessary to maintain unity during what it describes as an existential confrontation with the West.
Nadezhdin told Reuters that authorities were seeking to prevent him from campaigning and expressing critical views on internet restrictions, fuel shortages and the war.