Pro-Kremlin Russian blogger who turned on Putin sent to psychiatric unit

2026.03.19 14:50 Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on Wednesday. Photo: Sputnik/EPA A pro-Kremlin figure who unexpectedly denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine in a social media post this week that went viral has been placed in a psychiatric facility, Russian media reported on Thursday. Ilya Remeslo made a career denouncing Putin’s critics until he became one himself, posting a manifesto late on Tuesday to his 90,000 followers on ⁠Telegram entitled: “Five reasons why I stopped supporting Vladimir Putin.” He said Putin had prosecuted a “failing war” in Ukraine that had killed millions and torpedoed Russia’s economy to the detriment of its citizens’ well-being. “Vladimir ⁠Putin is not a legitimate president. Vladimir Putin must resign and be brought to trial as a war criminal and a thief,” ⁠Remeslo wrote in his post. Ilya Remeslo unexpectedly denounces Russian President Vladimir Putin in a post. Photo: Telegram On Thursday, St Petersburg’s Fontanka ‌newspaper reported Remeslo had been hospitalised in the city’s Psychiatric Hospital No 3. It said the hospital’s information desk confirmed a patient with Remeslo’s name and surname was available to receive packages. Reuters was unable to immediately confirm Remeslo was in the facility. Fontanka did not specify the grounds on which he may have been admitted. Remeslo’s posts represent a rare reversal for a public figure who built his profile attacking the Kremlin’s opponents. Even if isolated, the criticism suggests support for the war is beginning to erode within some parts of Russia’s traditionally loyal political fringe. That aligns with data that suggest Russians are growing weary of the conflict that is now in its fifth year. While support for Putin remains strong, 67 per cent of respondents say the country should move towards peace negotiations, according to a survey by the independent Levada Centre, pub

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