A Putin critic is convicted on charges that will keep him from campaigning for Russia's parliament

Boris Nadezhdin, a vocal critic of Moscow's military actions in Ukraine, has been convicted of displaying "extremist symbols," a ruling that bars him from participating in Russia's upcoming parliamentary elections. The charges stem from a 2023 online video where Nadezhdin briefly displayed a photograph of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Navalny, who was serving a lengthy prison sentence on charges widely considered politically motivated, died in an Arctic penal colony in February 2024. Nadezhdin, 63, rejected the case as absurd, asserting that authorities are attempting to silence him before the September parliamentary vote. The court in Dolgoprudny fined him 1,000 rubles (approximately $13). This verdict underscores the Russian authorities' efforts to quash dissent as the election approaches. The conviction occurs against a backdrop of public weariness fueled by fuel shortages and economic strain attributed to the conflict in Ukraine, potentially diminishing tolerance for any form of opposition. Nadezhdin had previously attempted to challenge President Vladimir Putin in the March 2024 presidential election but was disqualified after thousands of his submitted signatures were deemed invalid. He was also recently branded a "foreign agent" by the Justice Ministry, a designation that carries significant stigma and government scrutiny, and prohibits him from holding public office, though he continued his symbolic parliamentary campaign until Friday's verdict. The ruling United Russia party is expected to maintain its dominance in the lower house of parliament, facing only "systemic" opposition parties that largely align with the Kremlin on key legislation.

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absurd