Russia detains and charges anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin, barring him from State Duma race

Russian opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin, who launched a campaign for the Russian presidency in 2024 before authorities barred him from the race, was detained and charged with “demonstrating extremist symbols” on Monday.

“The police came. They took me in to the station in Dolgoprudny,” he wrote on Telegram.

When his lawyer went to the police station in question, he was initially unable to find the 63-year-old and reported him missing, though he did learn the charges again Nadezhin. The politician was later confirmed to be at that station.

The detention comes several days after the Russian authorities declared Nadezhdin a “foreign agent”.

The “extremist symbols” charge disqualifies Nadezhdin from participating in Russia’s upcoming State Duma race, which he had planned to participate in.