Russian police arrested prominent opposition leader Yevgeny Roizman on Wednesday for allegedly “discrediting” the Russian military, the country’s state media reported.
A criminal case has been opened against Roseman based on a video posted on his YouTube channel, according to TASS news agency, citing a law enforcement source.
Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency reported that Rosman – who is also the former mayor of Yekaterinburg, east of the Urals – is being held for 48 hours. A source told RIA Novosti that he is scheduled to be transferred to Moscow for further investigations.
A video posted by the pro-Kremlin Mash Telegram channel showed police officers in bulletproof vests and black masks storming Rosman’s apartment on Wednesday morning. Another video showed Roizman leaving his apartment with police when bystanders asked him he had been arrested for using the word “invasion”.
We already know everything about our country. Roizman said in a video as he left his apartment.
According to Russian state media, the searches took place at three addresses: at his home, at the Roizmann Foundation – where he regularly hosted meetings with local residents – and at his own museum, the Museum of the Nevyansk Icon.
Earlier this year, Roizman was fined three times for “defaming” the Russian armed forces on social media.
In May, Rosman was fined another 85,000 rubles ($1412) for a Twitter comment that used profanity in response to a statement from Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Some basic information: next Elia Yashin arrestedRoizman remained the last prominent public figure in the Russian opposition to speak out against the war in Ukraine. Rosman was notorious for calling out Russian officials on Twitter and staying in Russia despite a widespread crackdown on dissent.
Last month, Roizmann chirp A picture of him next to him Vladimir Kara Murza And Ilya Yashin with the caption: “I’m the only one who’s still free.”
Rosman emerged as mayor of Yekaterinburg from 2013-2018 for his anti-Kremlin stance. Rosman’s popularity and dissenting views led the authorities to cancel direct municipal elections in Yekaterinburg in 2018.
Despite losing public office, Roizmann continued to be one of the most influential voices in the Russian opposition and was a close friend of Imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.
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