Putin’s critic, pro-war Russian blogger arrested on extremism charges
- 21 July, 15:39
Prominent Russian pro-war blogger and President Vladimir Putin’s critic Igor Girkin has been arrested on charges of inciting extremism. Girkin, a nationalist and former battlefield commander of Russia’s proxy forces in east of Ukraine back in in 2014, was critical of Moscow’s handling of the war in Ukraine. He was arrested by the FSB state security service in his home on Friday and later charged under article 282 of the criminal code of the Russian Federation (extremism). His arrest comes after Girkin called for Putin’s downfall earlier this week, saying Russia “could not survive another six years” of his rule. He had also questioned Putin’s potential to lead the country following the failed mutiny staged by “Wagner” private military company last month. The day after the insurrection, on June 25, Girkin suggested that Putin “is not ready to take the leadership over the creation of war-ready conditions” in Russia and “needs to transfer the powers, but legally, to someone who is capable of such hard work.”
The high-profile arrest suggests that the Kremlin is running out of patience for dissent in the wake of the failed mutiny by Wagner.
Girkin, a micro blogger and former KGB officer has been a supporter of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He also had participated in Moscow’s annexation of Crimean Peninsula and led the forces of Russian-backed separatist Donetsk People’s Republic.
