Boris Nadezhdin, a prominent Russian critic of President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine, was arrested by Russian authorities on Monday.The 63-year-old activist, who previously attempted to run against Putin in the 2024 presidential elections, faces charges of 'demonstration of extremist symbols' related to a 2023 video featuring the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Nadezhdin, one of the few remaining critics of Putin's regime not in prison or exile, had been gathering signatures to contest the September 20 parliamentary elections.His arrest follows a government designation of him as a 'foreign agent,' a label often used to suppress dissent.Nadezhdin criticized Putin's policies in a recent video, linking the war's economic impacts to rising prices and militarization.The arrest highlights the escalating repression of political opposition in Russia, as the country continues its conflict in Ukraine.

Authorities have barred him from running in the upcoming elections, but he remains determined to challenge the 'idiotic' foreign agent label in court.

His case underscores the broader crackdown on dissent in Russia, where critics face severe consequences for opposing the government's stance on the war.