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Ilya Yashin Added to Russia's Wanted List Post-August Release for Ukraine Criticism

Dec 25, 2024, 12:15 PM

Russian opposition politician Ilya Yashin, who was released from prison in August as part of a prisoner exchange between Russia and Western countries, has been placed on Russia's wanted list. The Russian Interior Ministry added Yashin to its database of wanted persons, but no official announcement has been made regarding new criminal charges against him. Yashin, a former Moscow city councilman, expressed surprise at the move but noted that it was expected. He was previously sentenced to eight and a half years in prison in 2022 for criticizing Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Since his release, Yashin has been involved in the Russian opposition movement in exile, participating in protests against the Kremlin.