Ilya Remeslo, a Russian blogger and former Kremlin supporter, was hospitalized in St. Petersburg’s Psychiatric Hospital No. 3 on Thursday, according to reports from the local newspaper Fontanka.
Remeslo’s hospitalization follows a series of posts to his Telegram channel on March 17 and 18, in which he sharply criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin and the ongoing war in Ukraine. In a manifesto titled “Five Reasons Why I Stopped Supporting Vladimir Putin,” he described the conflict as a “dead end” and accused Putin of prioritizing personal “complexes” over the well-being of Russian citizens. He further stated that Putin was “not a legitimate president” and should be tried as a war criminal and thief.
Prior to his public denunciation of Putin, Remeslo had been known for his pro-Kremlin stance and his targeting of opposition figures, including the late Alexei Navalny. He previously served as a lawyer and member of a Kremlin-controlled public advisory body, gaining prominence by initiating complaints and supporting legal cases against Putin’s critics.
The speed of Remeslo’s reversal and subsequent hospitalization has drawn attention within Russia. Some observers initially speculated that his Telegram account had been hacked, but Remeslo quickly affirmed the authenticity of his statements in a video message, urging his followers to consider his arguments. According to Yahoo News, some pro-Kremlin figures questioned whether Remeslo was being held against his will before news of his hospitalization emerged.
The Kyiv Independent reported that staff at Psychiatric Hospital No. 3 confirmed to local journalists that a patient matching Remeslo’s name had been admitted. The grounds for his admission have not been publicly specified by the hospital or Russian authorities. An ambulance was reportedly dispatched to Remeslo’s home on Wednesday prior to his admittance, according to Fontanka.
Remeslo’s criticism of Putin came at a time when the Russian leader is facing increased scrutiny, even from some long-time supporters, over his foreign policy decisions regarding countries like Iran and Venezuela. He also condemned Putin’s suppression of media freedom and internet access within Russia.
As of Friday, March 20, 2026, Russian authorities have not commented on the circumstances surrounding Remeslo’s hospitalization or the allegations made in his public statements.
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