Yevgeny Roizman, a charismatic opposition figure and former mayor of Yekaterinburg, was detained on Thursday by Russian authorities on charges that could lead to his imprisonment. As a critic of the Kremlin, Roizman has long been a thorn in the side of President Vladimir Putin’s government. With a population of 1.5 million people, Yekaterinburg is Russia’s fourth-largest city, and Roizman’s popularity has made him a significant voice in the opposition movement.
Roizman’s troubles began last year when he was accused of discrediting the Russian military. As a result, he was barred from attending public events, using the internet, telephone, or mail, and communicating with anyone other than his lawyers and close family. Despite these restrictions, Roizman continued to be a vocal critic of the government, and his detention is seen as an attempt to muzzle dissent.
The charges against Roizman are related to a social media post that allegedly contained a reference to Alexei Navalny’s organization, which was banned by authorities. Roizman’s lawyer claims that the post was made by members of one of Roizman’s support groups, not by Roizman himself. If convicted, Roizman could face a 15-day arrest or new criminal charges related to the alleged violation of the terms of his sentence last year.
Yevgeny Roizman (Via Yevgeny Roizman/Twitter)
Roizman’s detention is part of a broader trend of the government cracking down on critics of its actions in Ukraine. Last year, Russian legislators approved legislation that outlawed the alleged disparagement of the Russian military or the spread of “false information” about the country’s military operation in Ukraine. Courts across the country have increasingly handed out prison terms to critics of Moscow’s actions in Ukraine, including prominent opposition politicians such as Ilya Yashin and Vladimir Kara-Murza.
Roizman remains one of the few visible opposition figures in Russia who has not yet been jailed or fled the country under pressure from authorities. His detention is a significant blow to the opposition movement, and it is likely to spark widespread outrage and protest in Russia.
