Medvedev's fiery warnings intensify fear among exiled Kremlin critics

The former President of the Russian Federation has once again attacked those released as part of the political prisoner exchange. "Let them keep on barking, dreaming of tearing apart the body of our country. Let them not forget about the perishability of their existence in this world. Let them burn in hell!" wrote Dmitry Medvedev.

This is another strike by Medvedev at the political prisoners released by Russia as part of the exchange with the West. Earlier, the politician wrote that he "would like, of course, for the traitors to Russia to rot in a dungeon or die in prison, as often happened."

The BBC reports about increasing attacks on Kremlin opponents who have emigrated from the country.

Dmitry Medvedev, who is currently serving as Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, wrote on Sunday on Telegram that political prisoners released by the Kremlin "should not forget the fragility of their earthly existence." In a thinly veiled threat, he also warned "to watch their backs." He called the released political prisoners "traitors of the homeland" and wished them to "burn in hell."

The Kremlin has intensified attacks on its opponents

The British portal BBC writes that the Kremlin has intensified attacks on its opponents who have emigrated from the country since the beginning of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. They themselves told the BBC about increasing threats, attempts to silence, and persecutions, assessing that "the Kremlin is tightening the screws."

Some activists, including Dmitry Gudkov from the Anti-War Committee, reported receiving warnings from British police about potential threats. Activist Ksenia Maksimova received similar information. British officers advised her to avoid travelling to countries where Russian agents might operate "more freely."

The BBC also reports that British anti-terrorism police have intensified their actions in response to threats related to the activities of hostile states. According to BBC interlocutors, reports of increasing cyber-attacks, internet espionage, and threats have emerged.

Alesya Marochowska, an investigative journalist, received a message that "Parasites can’t sleep in peace." She changed her address when it appeared in a threatening message. An anonymous sender wrote to her that they would find her "wherever she walks her wheezing dog." Later, she received messages containing other private information, such as her flight number and seat on a plane she was flying from the Czech Republic to Sweden. I can’t say I’m not afraid, because I am - admitted Marochowska.

The BBC also reminds of the brutal beating of Leonid Volkov, an associate of Alexei Navalny, who was attacked with a hammer in Vilnius. The perpetrators were two Polish hooligans hired by a Belarusian agent. All three were arrested. In Russia, the authorities initiate criminal cases against their opponents and cancel their documents to make their lives difficult.

According to analysts, Russian services are intensifying their actions against the opposition outside the country's borders. As Andrei Soldatov, a researcher of Russian services, says, after an initial period of confusion in 2022, when the war broke out, and many intelligence officers were expelled from Western countries, these services regrouped and found a new sense of purpose. - They got resources and began increasing pressure - says Soldatov.

Mark Galeotti, an expert on Russia, assesses that the goal of these actions is intimidation. -he idea that you'd better keep your head down. It’s a way of deterring the emergence of some kind of coherent political opposition [to the Kremlin] - assesses Galeotti.