Russian Activist Ildar Dadin, First Jailed Under Protest Law, Killed Fighting for Ukraine

Oct 6, 2024, 07:37 AM

Russian opposition activist Ildar Dadin has reportedly been killed while fighting for Ukraine near Kharkiv. Dadin was the first person in Russia to be jailed under a repressive 2015 law on 'repeated violation of the order to hold a rally', and his name became unofficially associated with the legislation. He was known for his opposition to President Vladimir Putin and was previously brutally tortured in Russian prisons. A prominent figure among Russian liberals and a supporter of Alexei Navalny, Dadin joined Ukrainian forces to fight against Russian troops after fleeing Russia. He once said, 'If you keep quiet, tomorrow the next person will keep quiet when they come for you.'