Russian authorities label jailed opposition figure Ilya Yashin ‘person inclined to spread extremism’ as fear grows over fate of Kremlin’s remaining political prisoners
Jailed opposition politician Ilya Yashin has been labeled by the Russian authorities as a “person inclined to spread extremism,” he reported on Monday.
“My personal file used to note only that I am a ‘persistent rulebreaker,’” Yashin wrote. “Now, I’m also a person ‘inclined to study and spread extremism.’ What this phrase means, I can only guess.”
One consequence of the new status, Yashin said, is that prison staff will have to hold “rehabilitative conversations” with him. He called the designation “predictable” and said he’s taken a “philosophical” view of the situation.
Yashin also said he was recently given an “official warning” not to publish materials from people or groups designated “foreign agents” on social media. He recounted his conversation with the official who delivered the warning:
“Ilya Valyerevich, I came to read you an official warning…”
“About what? That I might get a detached blood clot if I continue saying bad things about Putin?”
“Why are you… About the fact that you cannot publish materials without foreign agent disclaimers on social media. [...]”
The death of Alexey Navalny on February 16 sparked urgent calls from Russian opposition figures and their allies that the lives of Russia’s remaining political prisoners are in imminent danger. Investigative journalist Christo Grozev told Meduza that according to his sources, Vladimir Putin has “special plans” for Russian opposition leaders.
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