Anti-war politician flees Russia amid pre-election crackdown on dissent
Prominent Russian anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin has fled to France following a government crackdown on dissent. The Kremlin's actions, including labeling him a 'foreign agent' and barring him from parliamentary elections, effectively silenced one of the last public voices opposing the war in Ukraine.
Why it matters
The exile of a high-profile opposition figure illustrates the shrinking space for political dissent in Russia ahead of upcoming elections.
Boris Nadezhdin in court in Dolgoprudny, Russia, last month after he was briefly detained and accused of a minor administrative violation. Boris Nadezhdin in court in Dolgoprudny, Russia, last month after he was briefly detained and accused of a minor administrative violation. Russia Anti-war politician flees Russia amid pre-election crackdown on dissent Boris Nadezhdin, who gained prominence after standing against Putin in 2024, says he is now in France
Prefer the Guardian on Google The prominent Russian anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin has fled to Paris as Moscow tightens its grip on dissent before parliamentary elections later this year.
Nadezhdin, a veteran liberal politician, gained international prominence during Russia’s 2024 presidential election when his long-shot campaign against Vladimir Putin unexpectedly gathered momentum before electoral authorities barred him from running .
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