Gleb Yarovoi is a correspondent for North.Realities, a regional news outlet of RFE/RL's Russian Service.
Russian opposition activist Sergei Filenko was twice found guilty of "discrediting" Russia's military -- and paid his fine in cash that he marked up with anti-war slogans. Shortly before Finland closed its borders to Russian tourists, he fled to the Nordic country, where he is now seeking asylum.
Police raided a conference of independent lawmakers in Moscow last weekend, detaining nearly 200 people. With elections coming and the ruling United Russia party polling at record lows, the unprecedented move is seen as a signal the Kremlin has no intention of seeing its monopoly on power weakened.
