Photo: Peter Steinmetz/DW
The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has put Russian political analyst and columnist for Deutsche Welle Ivan Preobrazhensky on the federal wanted list. The information appeared in the Interior Ministry’s wanted list, which Preobrazhensky himself confirmed on 20 February on his Facebook page.
“My colleagues regrettably informed me that they had found me in the Russian Interior Ministry’s wanted list. So, a criminal case has been opened against me in Russia,” the political scientist wrote. He added that he did not know under what article he was being prosecuted, but emphasised: “Well, I’m not the first, I’m not the last. I hope that those who initiate such cases will one day be judged according to their own laws. We will continue to work.”
Persecution on the basis of “foreign agent” status
Ivan Preobrazhensky has been in opposition to the Russian regime for several years. In May 2023, the Russian Ministry of Justice added him to the list of “foreign agents”. After that, the political scientist was fined several times for publications without indicating his “foreign agent” status.
Moving abroad and activities
Ivan Preobrazhenskyi currently lives in Prague, where he continues to work as an expert on Central and Eastern Europe. His analyses are regularly published on Deutsche Welle and other European media.
Increased persecution of journalists and analysts in Russia
Putting Ivan Preobrazhensky on the wanted list is another step in the intensification of the persecution of opposition journalists, analysts and civil society activists in Russia. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Russian authorities have significantly increased pressure on independent media and government critics.
Preobrazhensky is one of dozens of journalists, analysts and activists who have been forced to flee abroad due to persecution, but even when outside Russia, they remain targets of criminal cases.
