Ten police officers detained Nikolai Bondarenko and forcibly brought him to the Oktyabrsky District Court of Saratov, the politician told the newspaper Vedomosti.
Bondarenko said he is accused under Article 20.3 of the Russian Administrative Code, which covers propaganda or public display of Nazi attributes or symbols, or attributes or symbols of extremist organizations. He did not specify what the charge refers to.
According to the outlet Ostorozhno Media, pro-government Telegram channels earlier accused Bondarenko of giving an interview to the Polish outlet Agencja Informacyjna. The publication, attributed to him, claimed Russia would not win the war and that Crimea is Ukrainian territory. The politician denied speaking to foreign media and publicly stated that Crimea is part of Russia.
Bondarenko is a Saratov politician, a Communist Party candidate for the State Duma, and a former deputy of the Saratov Regional Duma. He runs a YouTube channel called "Diary of a Deputy."