Putin Opponent Exits Russia Amid Election Exclusion

WHO:

ABC News - Opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin, a critic of the war in Ukraine.

AP News - Nadezhdin, 63, attempted to challenge President Vladimir Putin in the 2024 election.

WHAT:

ABC News - Nadezhdin has left Russia after being barred from running in this year's parliamentary election.

AP News - Nadezhdin shared a video on Telegram stating, “Good news: I’m alive and free. Unfortunately, not in Russia for the time being.”

AP News - A Russian court fined Nadezhdin about $13 for displaying “extremist symbols.”

AP News - Nadezhdin was designated a “foreign agent,” which brings additional government scrutiny.

AP News - Nadezhdin was barred from running in September’s parliamentary vote.

WHERE:

AP News - Nadezhdin was seen in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris after leaving Russia.

WHEN:

AP News - Nadezhdin was fined in July for displaying “extremist symbols.”

AP News - In January 2024, Nadezhdin collected thousands of signatures for his presidential run.

AP News - Nadezhdin was kept off the March 2024 ballot after a ruling by Russia’s Supreme Court.

WHY:

AP News - Nadezhdin's exclusion from the parliamentary race followed a crackdown on dissent and free speech in Russia.

AP News - The Kremlin is seeking to preserve its dominance in the lower house of parliament amid growing public fatigue with the war in Ukraine.

HOW:

AP News - Nadezhdin's campaign was hindered by a court ruling that invalidated more than 9,000 signatures submitted by his campaign.

(UPDATED August 3, 2026 18:44 UTC)

Opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin, a vocal critic of the war in Ukraine, has left Russia after being barred from running in the upcoming parliamentary election. In a video shared on Telegram, Nadezhdin, who was recently fined for displaying “extremist symbols” and designated a “foreign agent,” expressed his relief by stating, “Good news: I’m alive and free. Unfortunately, not in Russia for the time being,” while he was spotted in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. His exclusion from the race follows a crackdown on dissent in Russia, as the Kremlin aims to maintain control amid growing public discontent over the ongoing conflict.