One of the people long considered part of the Kremlin’s propaganda machine has launched a frontal attack on Vladimir Putin, in a rare and hard-to-explain outburst that has caused confusion and speculation in Russia.
According to The Guardian, Russian lawyer Ilya Remeslo, known for his pro-Kremlin positions, posted a message on Telegram titled „Five Reasons I Stopped Supporting Vladimir Putin,” addressed to his approximately 90,000 followers.
"Putin must resign and be judged"
In his message, Remeslo directly attacks the Kremlin leader, whom he calls an "illegitimate president" and responsible for a "failed war" in Ukraine.
"Vladimir Putin should resign and be judged as a war criminal. His personalized, corrupt system is condemned to collapse, as we see now in the war in Ukraine and elsewhere," he said.
The criticisms particularly target the war in Ukraine, which Remeslo considers futile.
"The war has already made 1-2 million victims"
According to TVP World, Remeslo argues that the war in Ukraine is the main reason for his break with Putin.
"The war has already made 1-2 million victims. In 2014, we supported the annexation of Crimea precisely because it was bloodless. We all believed then that Putin was the unifier of Russian lands," he said.
In his opinion, the conflict is a "deadlock" that could last for years.
Criticism of the economy and repression
In addition to the war, Remeslo accuses the Kremlin of severely affecting the economy and civil liberties.
"This man (Putin - ed.) has destroyed everything he could touch. The country is literally falling apart," he said.
The list of reasons cited includes "huge damage to the economy and living standards," "suppression of Internet and media freedom," and the fact that Putin "does not respect his voters and refuses to listen to them."
From propagandist to regime critic
The change is all the more surprising as Remeslo has been a faithful supporter of the Kremlin for years.
According to The Guardian, he actively participated in campaigns against regime critics and opposition leader Alexei Navalny, appearing in court against him and discrediting independent journalists.
In 2021, he welcomed a Moscow court's decision to declare Navalny's movement as "extremist," writing: "We crushed them like a fly."
Hacked account or Kremlin operation?
His outburst has sparked contradictory reactions. According to The Guardian, some initially suspected that his account had been compromised, a hypothesis rejected after Remeslo posted a video repeating his statements.
Others have suggested that it could be an operation orchestrated by the Kremlin to identify regime critics.
Remeslo has dismissed these theories.
"None of this is staged. I'm just telling the truth," he said, adding that people "greatly overestimate the current administration."
"Crosses all red lines"
Reactions from the Russian opposition have been cautious as well.
Leonid Volkov, a close associate of Navalny, stated that Remeslo's statements are unprecedented.
"He has written and said things that simply cannot be said. People go to jail for much less (...) This opens a very dangerous Pandora's box. It crosses all red lines," he said.
Remeslo admits that he could face legal repercussions for his statements.
"I am prepared for any legal action against me. It is time to somehow break this vicious circle and speak up. I bear a certain responsibility, as someone who, for a long time, supported this regime and helped it survive," he said.
Tensions in Moscow
Remeslo's outburst comes at a sensitive time for the Kremlin. According to The Guardian, authorities have recently faced rare criticism, including from supporters, amid limited access to mobile internet and economic difficulties.
Signals of increased security measures in Moscow have also appeared on social media. Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt wrote on the X platform that "images and information coming from Moscow show extensive security operations in the central areas of the city," without the context being clear.
Other unconfirmed messages suggest fears of possible internal tensions or even destabilization scenarios.