Missing Russian Duma candidate Kuznetsova reappears, cites 'difficult conversation'

Yulia Kuznetsova, a State Duma candidate running for Russia's Greens party, has posted a video message on her Telegram channel after being unreachable for roughly a day.

In the video, Kuznetsova says that both she and her husband are fine. She explains that the previous day involved a "pretty difficult conversation," after which her husband had to provide her with psychological support and medical care. She adds that she is now all right and will be home soon, thanking everyone who expressed concern for her.

Kuznetsova is running in Moscow's Babushkinsky single-member district under the campaign slogan "For life, peace, and freedom." Alexei Navalny's team had recommended supporters vote for her through its Smart Voting initiative.

On the evening of September 17, Kuznetsova stopped responding after a meeting with voters in the Sokolniki district. An associate told the outlet Mediazona that he had filed a missing-person report covering both Kuznetsova and her husband. The next day, a police officer contacted him, asked him to come in, and told him the couple had been located. The officer showed him a photograph but could not say where the two were being held. Police then suggested the associate call off the search.