Pro-Kremlin Loyalist Ilya Remeslo Denounces Putin
Ilya Remeslo, once a steadfast pro-Kremlin figure known for targeting critics of the Russian government, abruptly reversed his stance against Vladimir Putin. The 42-year-old lawyer, who had spent years discrediting independent journalists, bloggers, and opposition politicians, published a manifesto on Tuesday night addressed to his 90,000 Telegram followers titled “Five reasons why I stopped supporting Vladimir Putin.”
In this post, Remeslo condemned Putin as an “illegitimate” president waging a “failing war” in Ukraine that has resulted in millions of casualties and severely damaged Russia’s economy. He argued that Putin’s more than twenty years in power exemplify the adage that “absolute power corrupts,” and called for the president to step down.
Remeslo’s Manifesto Sends Shockwaves
The manifesto caused significant upheaval within Russia’s online community, sparking confusion about how a previously loyal Kremlin supporter could so suddenly reverse his position and raising questions about the authenticity of his shift.
Speaking to from his St Petersburg apartment on Wednesday, Remeslo reaffirmed his statements:
“Vladimir Putin should resign and be put on trial as a war criminal. His personalised, corrupt system is doomed to collapse, as we’re seeing now with the war in Ukraine and elsewhere.
“The army isn’t advancing in Ukraine, and the war is going nowhere. There are massive losses. We are fighting over tiny territories that will ultimately give Russia nothing.”
He further criticized Putin’s authoritarian governance, the state of the Russian economy, and Moscow’s recent efforts to restrict access to Telegram.
“This man [Putin] has destroyed everything he could lay his hands on. The country is literally falling apart,” Remeslo said.
Rare Public Criticism from a Pro-War Figure
While some members of Russia’s pro-war “Z-blogger” community have occasionally criticized military leadership, few have openly challenged Putin or the fundamental justification for the invasion of Ukraine. Remeslo’s comprehensive denunciation thus represents a rare breach of long-standing taboos.
Ivan Philippov, a researcher specializing in the pro-war movement, described the outburst as unprecedented and difficult to interpret.
Remeslo, a former member of Russia’s public chamber—a Kremlin-controlled advisory body—had been widely recognized as a regime loyalist who used his legal expertise to target and denounce government critics both in courts and online. Much of his work focused on campaigns against opposition leader Alexei Navalny, including testifying in courts nationwide.
Speculation and Reactions to Remeslo’s Turn
Remeslo’s dramatic shift sparked immediate speculation. Some initially suspected his Telegram account had been hacked, but this was dismissed after he released a video reiterating his claims. Others suggested it might be a Kremlin-orchestrated provocation to identify sympathizers.
Philippov speculated that Remeslo might be experiencing a mental breakdown.
Remeslo denied these theories, stating:
“None of this is staged. I am just speaking the truth.”
“People really overestimate the current administration. They wouldn’t come up with such a plan.”
When asked why he chose to speak out at this time, Remeslo explained that his decision evolved gradually until he felt compelled to break his silence.
“Putin is no longer ‘one of us’. He is a person whose interests are completely alien to both Russia and me personally. I’ve come to the conclusion that it is both possible and necessary to criticise him, because otherwise none of this will stop and nothing good will come of it,”
he said, adding that many others within his community shared similar views.
Remeslo also revealed that he had received numerous urgent calls from contacts within the security services urging him to remove his posts, which he interpreted as a sign of panic within the system.
Opposition Figures Respond
The Russian opposition expressed puzzlement over Remeslo’s statements. Leonid Volkov, a close ally of Navalny and a frequent target of Remeslo’s previous campaigns, initially suspected the episode was staged but later concluded otherwise.
“He wrote and said things that simply cannot be said. People are jailed for far less … This opens a very dangerous Pandora’s box. It crosses every red line,”
Volkov remarked.
However, he added:
“It is hard to believe this was an act of personal courage or initiative.”
Context of Remeslo’s Outburst
Remeslo’s denunciation comes at a politically sensitive time for Moscow, which has recently faced rare criticism even from its staunchest supporters due to widespread mobile internet blackouts and disruptions to Telegram. Polling data also indicates growing war fatigue among Russians, with a record number expressing a preference for an end to the conflict amid mounting economic pressures.
Despite these factors, Western intelligence assessments and experts generally maintain that Putin’s power structure remains resilient, characterized by elite cohesion and strict societal control.
Remeslo Acknowledges Risks
Remeslo acknowledged the personal risks associated with his statements, recognizing that Russian authorities have historically dealt harshly with internal dissent, even among prominent nationalists. For example, Igor Girkin, a former separatist commander and vocal Putin critic, received a lengthy prison sentence, and his allies were purged. Moscow is also suspected of involvement in the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the mercenary leader who led a brief mutiny against the government and later died in a suspicious plane crash.
“I am ready for any trial against me,”
Remeslo declared.
“The time has come to somehow break this vicious cycle and speak out. I bear a certain responsibility as someone who, for a long time, supported this regime and helped it survive.”
