Freed Russian dissident put on Moscow's 'wanted' list

Russian opposition politician Ilya Yashin, released in a prisoner exchange in August, has been placed on Russia's "wanted" list, according to an entry in the interior ministry database viewed on Wednesday.

The listing states he is "wanted under a criminal code article" and includes his photograph along with his personal details.

Yashin, a former Moscow city councillor, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison in December 2022 for his criticism of what he described as "the murder of civilians" in Bucha, Ukraine.

The politician, who has been labeled a "foreign agent" by Russian authorities, was a prominent figure in the opposition, known for his associations with key Kremlin critics such as Alexei Navalny, who died in detention earlier this year, and Boris Nemtsov, who was assassinated in 2015.

He was released on August 1 as part of a major prisoner swap between Russia and Western nations, which also included American journalist Evan Gershkovich.

At the time, Yashin voiced concerns about leaving Russia, stating that such exchanges could "encourage Putin to take more hostages."

Following his release, Yashin relocated to Germany, where he has remained involved in the Russian opposition movement in exile.

He has participated in protests against Russia's military actions in Ukraine and against President Vladimir Putin, including a demonstration in Berlin in November.

The Russian wanted list, including domestic and international figures, now includes Yashin. Other high-profile individuals on the list include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.