Russian anti-war politician fined €11 in extremism case in move to bar him from running for State Duma

Russian opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin, who launched a campaign for the Russian presidency in 2024 before authorities barred him from the race, was fined 1,000 rubles (€11) over “displaying extremist symbols” on Friday, independent media outlet RusNews has reported. 

According to court files, the “extremist symbols” in question are a link he posted to a YouTube stream last month that, at one point, showed a photograph of the late opposition leader Alexey Navalny.

During the hearing, Nadezhdin’s lawyer insisted on calling the ambulance for her client, who is disabled, after his blood pressure had spiked. The medics who arrived soon after were not allowed inside the room until the judge had left following the verdict.

The detention and fine come several days after the Russian authorities declared Nadezhdin a “foreign agent”. The “extremist symbols” charge disqualifies Nadezhdin, 63, from participating in Russia’s upcoming State Duma race, which he had planned to participate in.

Nadezhdin, a once little-known liberal who last held office at the national level over 20 years ago, became popular in 2024 when his doomed presidential campaign nevertheless became the sole possible form of legal protest against Putin’s continued rule.