Russian authorities have added more Kremlin critics to their wanted list as a crackdown on dissent reaches unprecedented levels since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine more than two years ago, the Associated Press reported, citing independent Russian news media. “Mediazone”, writes BTA.
Russian media reported on Tuesday that it had found the names of Daria Serenko and Mikhail Zigar in the Interior Ministry's database of wanted persons with criminal charges. Serenko is an activist for women's rights, and Zigar – famous journalist and author. The database does not make clear the charges or when the two were added to the list.
Both Serenko and Zigar have long since left Russia.
Russia's crackdown on opposition activists, independent journalists and government critics intensified during the war. Hundreds have been prosecuted for protests and comments condemning the war in Ukraine, and thousands have been fined or jailed.
Serenko is a long-time activist and author who co-founded Feminist Anti-War Resistance (“Feministskoe anti-war resistance“) in February 2022 and moved to Georgia during the repression. Both she and the group have been designated as “foreign agents”, a label that carries with it more scrutiny from the authorities.
Zigar is an author and editor-in-chief of the independent Russian TV channel "Rain", which also left Russia after the invasion and was declared a "foreign agent". According to unconfirmed Russian media reports earlier this year, Zigar could be charged with spreading fake news about the military over a social media post about Russian atrocities in Bucha.
Spreading fake news about the military is a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison under a law passed in Russia shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine.
The law has been widely used against those who publicly criticize the war or the Kremlin, including against people who have left Russia. Many opponents of the Kremlin have been convicted in absentia.