Russian pro-government blogger Ilya Remeslo has been placed in a psychiatric hospital, Russian media reported. This became clear after a series of his statements containing sharp criticism of the Russian authorities and predictions of the fall of the regime, in which Vladimir Putin was called a "war criminal".
In his posts on his Telegram channel in recent days, Remeslo says: "The war is now being fought only because of Putin's complexes. We, ordinary citizens, do not gain anything from it - we only lose. There were problems with the economy even before the war, but now enormous damage has been done to the economy and the well-being of citizens. The authorities have forgotten themselves to such an extent that they even deprive people of their animals, as happened recently in Novosibirsk." And more: "Vladimir Putin is not a legitimate president and must resign. He must be put on trial as a war criminal and a thief. The king is naked!"
What is the reason for the sharp turn and who is Ilya Remeslo?
The sharp change in his rhetoric has caused violent reactions in both pro-government and opposition circles. The opposition suggests that his statements may be associated with a risk of criminal prosecution. At the same time, bloggers close to the authorities talk about external pressure, personal breakdown or internal political conflicts.
Ilya Remeslo calls himself a lawyer, but he is best known as a pro-government blogger and whistleblower who participated in campaigns against the Russian opposition - such as against Alexei Navalny and projects of his Anti-Corruption Fund.
Immediately before his latest critical statements against the Kremlin, Remeslo explained his action against the Russian authorities in an interview with The Breakfast Show (a Russian-language YouTube channel with news and socio-political topics under the direction of journalist Alexander Plyushchev, who also worked for Deutsche Welle).
In this interview, the blogger denied the versions of funding or coordination from outside, as well as threats - he assured that his actions were voluntary, he was not under the influence of third parties and he had not coordinated his steps with anyone. Remeslo admitted that his behavior may seem contradictory, but explained this with his internal evolution and "life task". He also said that his participation in campaigns against the opposition over time ceased to correspond to his views. His decision to break with the government matured since 2023 against the backdrop of political events, including the rebellion of Yevgeny Prigozhin and the subsequent disappointments. Remeslo says that it was then that he first doubted his political course, and later finally came to the conclusion that he should distance himself.
The blogger says that he initially relied on quick deals regarding Russia's war against Ukraine, but now he has realized that every military success only strengthens the current government in Russia. He also claims that he has realized the futility of the current course and the need for change. Despite the risks for Remeslo, emigration is not a solution, because he is counting on recent political changes this year. "Even if I go to jail, it won't be a big deal. But I will come out as a winner."
How did the pro-government circles react
"I am very shocked", Apti Alaudinov, head of a Chechen combat unit, wrote on his Telegram channel. Remeslo had previously been his associate and he considered him "absolutely adequate" and loyal, so he did not rule out the possibility that he was forced to make his latest statements. Propagandist Vladimir Solovyov, on the other hand, explained what was happening with a "collapse" against the backdrop of the war, adding that "some people can't stand it".
At the same time, some of the authors supporting the war allow for more pragmatic or conspiratorial explanations - for example, that all this was "necessary for someone", although they do not rule out that it is a personal position of Remeslo. There are also versions according to which the blogger was "affected" by something. But even in the pro-war segment, warnings of the risk of internal schism are heard: the "Belarusian Security Service" channel reminds that "the only way to defeat Russia is through internal strife".
The versions of political scientists
Researcher Ivan Filipov calls Remeslo "an accomplice in the murder of Alexei Navalny" and notes that the blogger "never does things just like that and never for free". For Filipov, the statements about Putin, in which he is called a war criminal and a thief, are unprecedented even by the standards of the Russian system. Therefore, he assumes that Remeslo will be arrested. Political scientist Abbas Galyamov connects the blogger's behavior with the broad dynamics in society. "There is a movement in this direction both in the media sphere and in society as a whole" against the backdrop of war fatigue, economic problems and a decline in trust in the authorities, says Galyamov. He does not rule out another version - that harsh public statements could serve to discredit the transition of loyalists to the opposition.
According to political scientist Dmitry Oreshkin, the Russian authorities could not remain indifferent to Remeslo's action. "The authorities could not help but react firmly. If they want to make him a hero, they must somehow hurt or break him. If he has gone off the straight path and fallen into hysteria - he must be isolated." Oreshkin also points out that the psychiatric hospital to which Remeslo was sent has had a sad reputation since Soviet times, when it performed punitive functions. The expert does not rule out the version of a mental breakdown, but does not particularly believe in it: more likely, these are actions "after someone's call".
What could be the consequences
The sharp change in Ilya Remeslo's rhetoric became one of the most noticeable episodes of public "metamorphoses" in the pro-government camp. The most famous of these was the mutiny of Yevgeny Prigozhin after the Ministry of Defense tried to deprive him of the opportunity to have his own army. In the end, Prigozhin abandoned his offensive towards Moscow, concluding some kind of deal with the Russian authorities, but unexpectedly died in a plane crash, which the authorities called an accident.
Author: Alexey Strelnikov