Latest news with #anti-Kremlin
LeMonde
5 days ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
Russian opposition figure Ilya Yashin: 'If Ukraine is handed over to Putin, it will be a tragedy, and the prologue to a global confrontation'
A prominent figure in the liberal opposition to Vladimir Putin since the 2000s, Ilia Yashin, 41, was a Moscow city councilor when he was arrested in June 2022. He was sentenced in December 2022 to eight and a half years in prison for criticizing Russia's invasion of Ukraine and denouncing crimes committed against Ukrainian civilians in Bucha, near Kyiv. He was released on August 1, 2024, as part of the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and Western countries since the end of the Cold War. He now lives in Berlin. Visiting Paris for meetings at the Elysée and the Foreign Affairs Ministry, he spoke with Le Monde on Monday, May 26. The Kremlin took more than two years of your life. Did these 25 months in prison change your perspective on Vladimir Putin? It is a heavy feeling. It is extremely hard on both physical and psychological health. But the regime killed several of my friends, other figures from the anti-Kremlin opposition, including Boris Nemtsov and Alexei Navalny [the most prominent opposition leader, who died under suspicious circumstances in detention on February 16, 2024]. Those two assassinations were far more painful for me than my own imprisonment. Vladimir Putin started the war in Ukraine, which kills innocent people and deprives families of their homes every day: That leaves a much deeper mark on me than the memory of prison.
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Putin could be a ‘dead man walking' and face assassination over 'disaster' war
The Russian despot has tightened his security and rarely leaves his Kremlin security bubble out of fear of a Ukrainian kill squad, anti-Kremlin plotters or killers from within his inner-circle Russian leader Vladimir Putin could be a 'dead man walking' and face assassination because of his disastrous war on Ukraine, experts believe. The 72 year-old despot has tightened his security and rarely leaves his Kremlin security bubble out of fear of a Ukrainian kill squad, anti-Kremlin plotters or killers from within his inner-circle. It comes as Russian society is learning they have suffered close to a million casualties, troops either killed, missing in action or wounded by fighting in Ukraine, Experts say the terrified ex-KGB man's reticence over facing Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey this week has hugely exposed his weakness. Western intelligence analysts now believe Putin not only fears being assassinated but that it could actually happen because of his 'meat grinder' conflict. Former commander of the UK's Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Regiment, Col Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, told the Mirror: 'There are analysts, people who know better than I, who believe Putin is now a dead man walking, a spent force whose war in Ukraine will cause his end. 'I don't think there is a chance in hell that he would or will turn up to Istanbul to face Zelensky as he would believe he could be in danger or face arrest for war crimes. Things are looking very bad in Russia as even the US now seems to be looking at conciliation with Ukraine as Trump is realising he has been played by Putin. 'Putin cannot keep playing for time and his bluff has been called brilliantly by Zelensky's challenge to meet him face-to-face in Turkey. Russia in the coming months will lose a third of its income through decreased oil prices and it has lost probably a million troops to the conflict. 'He is incredibly paranoid, as we see with his increased security and I am very reliably informed by people who would know that he has at least two dopplegangers or lookalikes. He has been acting like a worried Czar and the Bolsheviks are gathering at the gates because internally things are looking really terrible. Russians cannot even buy a loaf of bread.' Bruce Jones, one of the UK's leading analysts in Russian intelligence and the military said: 'Things never end democratically in Russia and the situation is bad for Putin. He has had people killed for years and some in his military have already been dealt with in such a way - he knows the way this goes for a leader in Moscow who is not making good decisions. So he is probably right to be paranoid.' Colonel Richard Kemp, former commander of UK forces in Afghanistan, added: 'There are plenty of people who would want to have Putin bumped off. But his security is so tight that there is a real question over whether that is at all achievable and I believe that for the moment it is unlikely to happen.' Zelensky challenged Putin to showdown talks this week that could bring an end to the grinding war that has decimated both countries. The Ukraine leader travels to Turkey on Thursday hoping to negotiate the first steps to "true and lasting peace" in Eastern Europe, his chief of staff has announced. Putin had suggested a meeting between officials from Kyiv and Moscow to be held in Istanbul, but it is highly unlikely he would attend. The Ukrainian president said that should Putin refuse to go it would show the Kremlin chief does not want peace. A former British intelligence officer told the Mirror: 'Putin is a very diminished person. But there are questions over whether him being killed would serve any purpose.' US President Donald Trump has offered to attend the talks, although Washington is not clear whether any Kremlin officials would show up. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov previously said it would make an announcement about whether anyone would attend "as soon as the president sees fit." Kyiv has been willing to show Washington it is prepared to end the conflict, having signed a minerals deal with the US and regularly stating it wants to bring the war to an end. Russian mercenary organisation, the Wagner Group staged an armed revolt against the country over concerns about how the war was being conducted. Its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin led a mutiny against Russia, steering his forces from Ukraine toward Moscow Putin branded it "treason" but agreed with Prigozhin to let him live should he bring the mutiny to an end. Prigozhin died in a plane crash two months later in August 2023. Putin is so desperate for troops North Korea is estimated to have sent about 12,000 including members of its special forces. It is possible thousands of North Korean soldiers have died in the conflict. And last week it emerged that North Korean tyrant Kim Jong-Un has agreed to send a further 15,000 workers to help Putin bolster his dwindling industrial employee base and help in Far East Russian factories.
Channel 4
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Channel 4
Russia Victory Day: will Putin ever be toppled? Vladimir Kara-Murza
Russia is celebrating Victory Day, with 29 foreign leaders including the Chinese President Xi Jinping joining Vladimir Putin in Moscow to commemorate the Soviet Union's part in the defeat of Nazi Germany 80 years ago. But is President Putin about to enjoy his own victory if the US pulls out of peace negotiations over the war in Ukraine? For the latest episode of The Fourcast, Krishnan Guru-Murthy talks to one man who thinks President Trump is doing everything in his power to make that happen. The writer, historian and activist Vladimir Kara Murza has been poisoned and imprisoned for his anti-Kremlin campaigns. He was released from a Siberian jail last year as part of a prisoner exchange. Produced by Calum Fraser, Toby Bakare, Rob Thomson
India Today
24-04-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Who is Ivan Vladimirovich Putin? Leaked photo reveals alleged son of Vladimir Putin
The first-ever photos of Russian President Vladimir Putin's alleged 10-year-old son, Ivan Vladimirovich Putin, have reportedly been leaked by VChK-OGPU, an anti-Kremlin Telegram channel with links to Russian law enforcement and intelligence to be the son of Russian President Putin and Olympic gymnast Alina Kabaeva, 41, Ivan has lived a life shrouded in secrecy, as reported by The Sun. advertisementThe newly released high-resolution images, one showing Ivan in a traditional Russian outfit and another with his mother, are the first public glimpse of the boy, who has allegedly been hidden from view since birth. According to the Telegram channel, Ivan lives under constant security, with limited contact with other children, and his time is strictly managed by tutors, governesses, and guards. VChK-OGPU described him as 'probably the loneliest boy in Russia,' and noted his strong resemblance to a young Soviet-era was reportedly born in 2015 at a clinic in Lugano, Switzerland and he is reportedly fond of Disney cartoons and ice hockey, though Putin is said to disapprove of the cartoons. He also has a younger brother, Vladimir Jr, born in 2019. Both children are believed to live in a heavily guarded residence near Moscow with round-the-clock staff and private Kabaeva, long rumored to be in a relationship with Putin, has never confirmed the claims and maintains a private life. At the onset of Russia's war in Ukraine, reports claimed that Putin had relocated his family, including the children he shares with Kabaeva, to a secure residence in neutral years of speculation, the leaked images mark the first time any visual evidence of Putin's rumored youngest son has reached the public.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Does Vladimir Putin have a secret son? All you want to know about Ivan Vladimirovich Putin
Image credits: x/@susko_insider Russian President Vladimir Putin , frequently at the centre of controversies and speculations about his health issues, is once again under scrutiny, this time over reports of a 'secret son' As per various websites on Google, Russian president Vladimir was married to Lyudmila Aleksandrovna Ocheretnaya from 1983 to 2014 with whom he shares two daughters Mariya Putina and Katerina Tikhonova. However, currently a purported image of Putin's 'secret son' is going viral all over the internet. Who is he and why has he never been sighted with his father? Find out all the details below. Who is Ivan Vladimirovich Putin? Image credits: X/@susko_insider by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Seniors in the Philippines Can Enjoy Affordable Private Health Insurance! (See List) Local Plan Undo The photo of Ivan Vladimirovich Putin was reportedly shared by a Russian anti-Kremlin Telegram channel, VChK-OGPU . He is allegedly 10-year-old and as per the Mirror, Putinshares him with former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabaeva . Additionally, he is believed to have been kept "hidden from ordinary Russians" and lived behind high-security palace walls. His appearance is said to resemble that of young Putin's. 'VChK-OGPU [channel] has obtained a photo of the most secret and probably the loneliest boy in Russia. This is Ivan Vladimirovich Putin. He hardly communicates with other children, spending all his time with guards, governesses, [and] teachers,' said a report, cited by the outlet. According to investigative reports from the Dossier Center , Ivan was born in 2015 at a maternity clinic in Lugano, Switzerland. He is also supposedly obsessed with Disney cartoons and movies and loves dressing up in costumes, much to the dismay of his father. He also loves playing hockey. How many children does Vladimir Putin have? Image credits: X/@susko_insider While he shares two daughters with his former wife, Putin is said to share two sons with Kabaeva. Many reported including one by Business Insider claim that Putin shares two sons - Ivan Vladimirovich Putin and younger son Vladimir Jr. They are said to reside in a heavily guarded palace near Lake Valdai, north of Moscow under guarded security and minimal contact with the outside world. There are also reports of the Russian president sharing a daughter with Svetlana Krivonogikh, a former cleaning lady. The claims of Ivan being Putin's son remain unconfirmed by the government and Putin himself.
