Russian opposition figure Boris Nadezhdin arrested in Moscow, faces trial for 'extremist symbols'

Boris Nadezhdin, the former liberal deputy and one of the few Russian opposition figures still operating inside the country, was arrested in Moscow on charges of displaying extremist symbols, according to Sud Ouest. The 63-year-old former presidential candidate now faces trial on July 16, Le Parisien reported.

Nadezhdin had been a rare voice of dissent against President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, managing to avoid prison or exile until now. "L'ancien député libéral était l'un des rares à avoir publiquement critiqué le maître du Kremlin et l'offensive russe en Ukraine sans avoir été jusque-là emprisonné ou exilé," Liberation reported, noting that he was nevertheless classified as a "foreign agent" on July 10.

Despite the legal pressure, Nadezhdin is pursuing a campaign for a seat in the State Duma, L'essentiel reported. In a recent interview in Dolgoproudny, he warned that Putin's policies are steering the country toward disaster. "L'opposant russe Boris Nadejdine accuse le président Vladimir Poutine de mener la Russie vers le chaos et une possible catastrophe," Le Parisien wrote, quoting his call to tell Russians the truth about the president's direction.

L'essentielOpposant russe: Poutine mène la Russie vers une possible «catastrophe»

The arrest, based on a charge of "demonstration de symboles extrémistes" according to Sud Ouest, underscores the shrinking space for political opposition in Russia. Nadezhdin's case will be closely watched as a test of whether even the mildest criticism of the Kremlin can be met with prosecution.