Russian Officials Crack Down on Opposition Figures and 'Fake' News Spreaders

Russian politician Maxim Katz has been arrested in absentia for spreading "fake news" about the Russian Armed Forces. Katz, who left Russia before being placed on the federal wanted list, risks up to three years in prison if he returns. The law criminalizing the spread of information about Russia's military or the war that differed from the Kremlin's narrative has led to the arrest and jailing of many critics of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, including opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza and artist Alexandra Skochilenko.