Russian court fines opposition politician Nadezhdin for displaying Navalny photo

A Russian court on Friday fined opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin for displaying what authorities consider extremist symbols. The fine amounts to 1,000 rubles (approximately €11), according to the online outlet Mediazona.

Nadezhdin was charged over a post on his Telegram channel in 2023. The post contained a link to a live broadcast by opposition politician Elvira Vikhareva, in which Nadezhdin participated. The broadcast showed a photo of opposition leader Alexei Navalny for about ten seconds. This photo has been classified as 'extremist symbolism' in Russia.

During the hearing in Dolgoprudny, Moscow region, Nadezhdin argued that this was a unique case – while others had been punished for posting Navalny's photos on their own resources, he was being punished for a link to a video containing the image. He stated that the aim of the proceedings was to 'shut him up' and prevent him from running for the State Duma. Nadezhdin asked not to be detained due to his health condition. After the hearing, he expressed relief at being 'alive and free'.

Nadezhdin announced his intention to run in the presidential election in 2023. In Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other Russian cities, people stood in long lines to sign in support of his candidacy. Despite collecting over 200,000 signatures, authorities refused to register him. He was the only candidate with an anti-war platform, promising to seek a ceasefire with Ukraine as soon as possible if elected, though he did not address the withdrawal of occupying forces.

On Thursday, Nadezhdin said he was banned from leaving Russia, allegedly due to debts.

Alexei Navalny, Putin's longtime personal foe, died in an Arctic penal colony on February 16, 2024, at age 47. He was serving a 19-year sentence that opponents considered politically motivated. In August 2020, he was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok and later treated in Germany. Upon returning to Russia in January 2021, he was immediately arrested and never regained freedom. Tens of thousands attended his funeral in Moscow, chanting anti-Putin slogans.