Key facts
- Russian blogger Ilya Remeslo has been detained on charges of spreading false information about the military.
- Remeslo had previously supported Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine but later became critical.
- He predicted that Putin would face legal consequences and potentially end up in handcuffs.
- Remeslo was remanded in pre-trial detention for two months.
- The detention occurred shortly after Remeslo posted on Telegram that Putin's situation was worsening rapidly.
Russian authorities have detained blogger Ilya Remeslo, who has shifted from supporting President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine to openly criticizing them. Remeslo faces charges of spreading false information about the military, a move that comes after he predicted Putin's downfall and legal consequences.
Remeslo's detention follows a pattern of increased pressure on remaining domestic opposition in Russia. He was remanded in pre-trial detention for two months. His criticism of Putin and the government's policies, including economic damage and restrictions on freedoms, led to a period in a psychiatric hospital. Shortly before his arrest, Remeslo posted on Telegram that Putin's situation was rapidly deteriorating due to an energy crisis and internal elite conflicts.
Separately, politician Boris Nadezhdin was convicted of displaying extremist symbols, barring him from collecting signatures for parliamentary elections. Nadezhdin, who previously ran for president on an anti-war platform, was declared a foreign agent and barred from leaving Russia. He claims the charges are aimed at silencing him and preventing his candidacy. His conviction resulted in a fine, though he stated his accounts were frozen, making payment impossible. Nadezhdin also experienced a brief fall in court due to health issues.