Russian opposition politician Galyamina detained by police in Kazan

Police in the Russian city of Kazan have detained opposition politician Galyamina. She was stopped at the railway station right after arriving in the city and taken to a police station. There, officers drew up a report accusing her of failing to comply with police demands. For this offence she faces up to 15 days of administrative arrest.

The details of the case are not known, and Galyamina herself has not yet commented. According to the source, Russian authorities often use detentions for administrative offences as a warning to opposition activists. The message is that it would be better to leave the country in order to avoid possible criminal prosecution.

Who Galyamina is

Galyamina became known during the 2011 and 2012 protests against election fraud. She has been a member of various opposition groups, ran in State Duma elections, and served as a municipal deputy in Moscow's Timiryazevsky district.

She has previously received a two-year suspended sentence for violating rules on organising rallies. She opposed Russia's invasion of Ukraine but refused to leave Russia. In 2022 the authorities added her to the so-called foreign agents register.

The source does not say when her case might be heard.