Boris Nadezhdin, a Russian anti-war politician and critic of President Vladimir Putin, has fled to Paris. In a social media video showing him in front of the Eiffel Tower, the 63-year-old stated that he is alive and free, though unfortunately not in Russia for the time being.
Nadezhdin's departure follows a crackdown on dissent as Moscow tightens its grip before parliamentary elections. He was recently designated a foreign agent by Russian authorities, detained, and fined. Consequently, he has been disqualified and barred from running in the parliamentary elections scheduled for September.
A veteran liberal politician, Nadezhdin gained international prominence during the 2024 presidential election when his campaign against Putin unexpectedly gathered momentum before he was barred from running. His exit reflects a broader trend where Russian critics are left in jail, in exile, or dead.