Boris Nadezhdin Withdraws from Russian State Duma Race

63‑year‑old Boris Nadezhdin, a former liberal lawmaker and outspoken anti‑war critic of President Vladimir Putin, announced on Telegram that he will not stand in the September 2026 State Duma elections. He said state authorities have “silenced” him, blocked his ability to collect signatures, and forced him out of politics.

In recent weeks Russian officials designated Nadezhdin a “foreign agent” and fined him 1,000 roubles for displaying “extremist symbols” after he shared a 2023 video that briefly showed the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny. A court ruling barred him from running, and a travel ban prevented him from leaving Russia. Citing these politically‑motivated legal setbacks, Nadezhdin said he is withdrawing to protect his campaign staff and supporters from state retaliation.

Nadezhdin remains one of the few remaining public opponents of the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine who has not been imprisoned, exiled, or killed.