Russia Adds Navalny Associate Milov, Writer Glukhovsky To Wanted List

By RFE/RL's Russian Service

Russia's Interior Ministry has added Vladimir Milov, an associate of jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny, and well-known writer Dmitry Glukhovsky to the federal wanted list.

Milov and Glukhovsky, who are currently out of Russia, have criticized Russia for its ongoing unprovoked invasion of Ukraine from its start on February 24.

The two men's names appeared in the Interior Ministry's registry of wanted people on June 7.

Milov has written reports and analytical essays about the war in Ukraine since early March.

Glukhovsky said on June 7 on Instagram that he is accused of discrediting the Russian Army, adding that the charge against him stemmed from his online post protesting the Ukraine war.

"I am ready to reiterate again what I said before: 'Stop the War!'" Glukhovsky wrote.

Glukhovsky has shared his opinions opposing the war in Ukraine in many media outlets, including RFE/RL.

Media across Russia have been instructed by the government that Moscow's actions in Ukraine cannot be called a "war" or an "invasion," and should instead be referred to as a "special military operation."

In early March, President Vladimir Putin signed a law that calls for lengthy prison terms for distributing "deliberately false information" about Russian military operations as the Kremlin seeks to control the narrative about its war in Ukraine.

The law envisages sentences of up to 10 years in prison for individuals convicted of an offense, while the penalty for the distribution of "deliberately false information" about the Russian Army that leads to "serious consequences" is 15 years in prison.

It also makes it illegal "to make calls against the use of Russian troops to protect the interests of Russia" or "for discrediting such use" with a penalty possible of up to three years in prison. The same provision applies to calls for sanctions against Russia.