Boris Nadezhdin, the anti-war politician blocked from Russia’s 2024 presidential ballot, hoped to run for parliament. But the state designated him a ‘foreign agent,’ and today police detained him.
Update: The news outlet SOTAvision reports that Nadezhdin has been released from police custody and must appear in court on Friday, July 17.
Russian police have detained opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin, who is accused of displaying extremist symbols, the Russian news outlet msk1 reported, citing lawyer Dmitry Trunin.
“Police have arrived. They’re taking me to the Dolgoprudny precinct,” Nadezhdin wrote on his Telegram channel on the afternoon of July 13.
On July 10, Russia’s Justice Ministry added Nadezhdin to its registry of “foreign agents,” saying he had helped distribute materials from other “foreign agents” and “undesirable” organizations, spread “false information” about decisions made by Russian authorities, and “called for participation in unsanctioned rallies and pickets.”
Nadezhdin said at the time that the designation would not affect his work. “I will keep living and fighting. This is unlikely to change anything in my political biography. I will keep running for the State Duma and collecting signatures,” he said.
In 2024, Nadezhdin sought to run for president as the only anti-war candidate. A broad campaign was mounted in support of his candidacy, and lines formed at signature-collection sites. The Central Election Commission barred him from the ballot, citing a high rate of invalid signatures.
In mid-June 2026, Nadezhdin submitted documents to the commission to run for the State Duma as an independent candidate and began collecting signatures.
Since May 2024, Russia has barred “foreign agents” from taking part in elections.
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