Report: A Russian politician has been detained for criticising Ukraine’s invasion

According to Russia’s TASS news agency, Russian authorities have detained politician Yevgeny Roizman, who is known for his criticism of the Kremlin and, more recently, of the military campaign in Ukraine.

According to TASS, Roizman, a former mayor of Yekaterinburg, is being investigated for “discrediting the Russian army.”

Roizman was one of a few Kremlin critics to win mayoral elections in 2012, following a series of large opposition demonstrations during President Vladimir Putin’s campaign.

Russia describes its actions in Ukraine as a “special military operation” to ensure its own security, and authorities have prosecuted a number of activists for referring to it as a war or criticising Russia’s actions.

Ukrainian forces have mounted a stiff resistance, and the West has imposed broad sanctions on Russia in an attempt to force it to withdraw its forces.