Russian opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin, an outspoken critic of the war in Ukraine, was arrested on Monday morning and taken to a police station west of Moscow, he announced on his Telegram channel. Authorities accuse him of displaying an "extremist symbol", according to German media reports.
The arrest comes days after the Russian Justice Ministry designated Nadezhdin a "foreign agent", a label that would bar him from standing in the upcoming State Duma elections scheduled for 18–20 September. Nadezhdin had announced in mid-June his intention to run for a parliamentary seat.
Nadezhdin previously drew attention as one of the few anti-war figures permitted to mount a presidential campaign before being blocked from the 2024 ballot. His latest arrest further narrows the field of opposition candidates ahead of the autumn vote.