Russian opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin says he fled the country after a sudden and unexplained lifting of his travel ban gave him what he believed was a final opportunity to avoid criminal prosecution and possible imprisonment.
The 63-year-old anti-war politician, who emerged as one of the most prominent critics of President Vladimir Putin in recent years, is now living in France after leaving Russia amid growing pressure from authorities. His departure marks the latest blow to Russia's already diminished opposition movement and raises fresh questions about the Kremlin's treatment of dissenting voices ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for September.
