Putin critic Sergei Udaltsov arrested charged with ‘justifying terrorism’

A prominent Russian left-wing activist who has for years criticized President Vladimir Putin has been arrested and charged with “justifying terrorism” on social media. 

Sergei Udaltsov, a supporter of the Russia-Ukraine war and the leader of the Left Front, a coalition of Russian left-wing groups affiliated with Russia’s Communist Party, wrote on Telegram earlier today that police broke down his front door and had a search warrant. 

His lawyer, Violetta Volkova, told the Russian state news agency Tass that electronic devices were confiscated during the search. Volkova said that a criminal case was opened against Udaltsov for “justifying terrorism” and that he was taken away for questioning and remanded into custody.

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Volkova told Tass he likely will appear in court on Friday and that if he is charged and found guilty, he could face up to seven years in prison.

It is unclear which posts on social media led to Udaltsov’s arrest.

Udaltsov, a leather-clad, shaven-headed leader, has been a vocal participant in anti-Kremlin demonstrations dating back to mass rallies held in 2012, according to the Moscow Times. 

In 2014, he was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for organizing protests that resulted in clashes with police on the eve of President Vladimir Putin’s 2012 inauguration. He was released in August 2017 after going on hunger strike.

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Most recently, Udaltsov was given 40 hours of compulsory labor for violating procedures relating to organizing a rally on Red Square in Moscow where he tried to unfurl a flag with the image of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin on Red Square, according to Tass.

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