141 Russian chess players changed nationalities in order to compete; 12-time world champion Aleksandra Kostenjuk signed an open letter to Putin in March 2022 together with 33 other chess players demanding an end to hostilities

Russia's Supreme Court rejected the appeal of opponent Kara-Murza against the 25-year prison sentence imposed on the journalist, activist and director for speaking out against the invasion of Ukraine

'The descendants of Napoleon and Hitler want to defeat Russia again with the help of the Anglo-Saxons,' allegedly said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, on the eve of Victory Day over Nazi Germany

Two more journalists working with international newspapers have reportedly been arrested, accused of 'extremism' in connection with alleged work for the foundation of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny

Patriot, an autobiographical book Russian dissident Alexei Navalny was working on before his death last 16 February in a prison in Siberia, will be published on October 22