Ilya Remeslo, a former pro-Kremlin lawyer and propagandist, has publicly called for the resignation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, labeling him a "war criminal and a thief." Remeslo, who spent nearly a decade assisting state-led campaigns against opposition figures, told The Washington Post that he now intends to oppose the administration after witnessing what he described as growing internal divisions over the war in Ukraine.

In a recent admission, Remeslo stated he paid a pensioner to file a fraudulent case against the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny regarding donations to the Anti-Corruption Foundation. This specific allegation formed part of the 2022 case that resulted in a nine-year prison sentence for Navalny, who died in an Arctic penal colony in February 2024. Remeslo expressed regret for his role in the persecution, stating that the Russian president "fears a real opponent."

Following his public criticism in March, Remeslo was detained and held in a St. Petersburg psychiatric hospital for 30 days. His subsequent release is noted as an unusual departure from the Russian government's typical harsh crackdowns on critics. Remeslo alleges that the scale of dissatisfaction within the Russian political system is "colossal," with some officials privately criticizing the president's leadership while remaining publicly silent.

The lawyer further claimed that a conflict has emerged between the presidential administration and the Federal Security Service (FSB) over economic troubles and internet restrictions. He suggested that Putin could eventually be removed by his own inner circle when his leadership no longer serves their interests. Remeslo has vowed to continue his public opposition despite the risks of further state retaliation.