Russian courts target two outspoken critics of war in Ukraine
By Lucy Papachristou
Crackdown on Kremlin Critics Ahead of Parliamentary Election
July 17 (Reuters) - Russian authorities have detained a blogger who criticised President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine and fined an anti-war politician, as Moscow sends a warning signal to critics of the Kremlin ahead of September's parliamentary election.
Although Putin maintains a near-total grip on power, he and the dominant United Russia party are under pressure in the lead-up to the vote as Russia grapples with an economic slowdown and fuel shortages triggered by Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries.
Detention of Blogger Ilya Remeslo
The blogger, Ilya Remeslo, was detained on Friday on suspicion of the offence of spreading false information about the Russian army, the TASS state news agency reported.
Russian news agencies said Remeslo had been detained in St. Petersburg, Russia's second largest city, brought to Moscow and remanded in custody by a court until September 16.
RIA news agency quoted Remeslo's lawyer, Sergei Badamshin, as saying the blogger denied the charges.
Remeslo's Manifesto and Legal Consequences
REMESLO'S MANIFESTO ON 'WHY I STOPPED SUPPORTING PUTIN'
Previously a pro-Kremlin figure, Remeslo published a manifesto that went viral on social media in March entitled "Five reasons why I stopped supporting Vladimir Putin". He was admitted to a psychiatric hospital, where he spent about a month. TASS said he could receive 10 years in prison if convicted.
Case Against Anti-War Politician Boris Nadezhdin
Separately, Boris Nadezhdin, a politician who attempted to run against Putin in the 2024 presidential election on an anti-war ticket, was fined 1,000 roubles ($13) for displaying "extremist symbols".
While the amount was symbolic, the case was among a series of steps against Nadezhdin that could signal more serious consequences if he continues to criticise the government on sensitive issues, including what he described this week as the "completely senseless fratricidal war".
Nadezhdin's Political Background and Restrictions
The 63-year-old, a liberal member of parliament from 1999 to 2003, was designated a week ago as a "foreign agent", a Soviet-era label carrying connotations of spying that bars him from political office. He was detained and questioned on Monday, and later forbidden to leave Russia.
Kremlin's Justification and Ongoing Censorship
The Kremlin says strict censorship laws are needed to keep Russia united during what it calls an existential confrontation with the West.
Nadezhdin told Reuters this week that the authorities were acting to prevent him campaigning and airing critical views on topics such as internet restrictions, fuel shortages and the war.
Details of the "Extremist Symbols" Case
His lawyer said the "extremist symbols" case stemmed from a social media post linking to a video that included a photo of the late opposition politician Alexei Navalny, whose Anti-Corruption Foundation is banned as an extremist movement. Nadezhdin called the case "ridiculous".
Broader Crackdown on Opposition
The liberal Yabloko party, which opposes the war in Ukraine, has also had several members disqualified from elections. Last month, its deputy chair, Maxim Kruglov, was jailed for seven years, convicted of spreading "military fakes".
Additional Reporting
(Additional reporting by Reuters in Moscow and Felix Light in Almaty; editing by Mark Trevelyan, Kevin Liffey and Cynthia Osterman)
