Antiwar Russians in Europe Learn That They Must Watch Their Words

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 6 min read 100% complete by Nataliya Vasilyeva and Valerie HopkinsJanuary 16, 2026 at 11:00 AM

AI Summary

long article 6 min

Russian dissident Leonid Volkov, a former chief of staff to Aleksei Navalny living in Lithuania, faces potential expulsion after a private rant criticizing Ukrainian officials was leaked. Lithuanian officials condemned Volkov's comments, arguing he crossed a line by criticizing a nation defending itself from Russian invasion. This incident has sparked debate about the limits of free speech for Russian dissidents in Eastern Europe, where strong support for Ukraine has narrowed the space for criticism. The controversy began when a former employee published Volkov's private messages, in which he disparaged Ukrainian officials, including Kyrylo Budanov. The backlash has created a chilling effect among Russian exiles, raising concerns about their future safety and acceptance in the region.

Keywords

leonid volkov 100% russian dissidents 90% ukraine 80% lithuania 70% eastern europe 70% free speech 60% russia-ukraine war 60% criticism 60% expulsion 50% political asylum 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative
Score: -0.30

Source Transparency

Source
New York Times - World
Political Lean
Center-Left (-0.30)
Far LeftCenterFar Right
Classification Confidence
90%
Geographic Perspective
Lithuania

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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