Chelyabinsk Activist Ends Election Bid After Jump From Window to Escape Police

July 20, 2026 Mikhail Popov in a hospital. @urban_journal / Telegram An urban planning blogger and activist in the city of Chelyabinsk has abandoned his campaign for the local city council a week after injuring his spine while jumping from a second-floor window to escape from police officers. Mikhail Popov announced earlier this month that he intended to gather the signatures needed to run as an independent candidate for the Chelyabinsk City Duma in September A week later, Popov fractured his spine and was hospitalized after jumping out of a second-floor window while attempting to flee visiting police officers at his home. The purpose of the police visit was not immediately clear. “I won’t be able to collect 205 signatures by July 24, so I’m forced to end my participation in this election campaign,” Popov wrote on Telegram on Monday, adding that he planned to focus on his medical recovery. Popov, known for his writing on public transit and urban development, was beaten by two men in camouflage last year. At the time, the blogger said he believed the assault was connected to his public opposition to a local forest construction project. Popov identified one of the visiting officers at his home last week as an investigator who had questioned him about his assault in 2025. A court fined one of his assailants 6,000 rubles ($76), while the second person avoided prosecution. His campaign suspension follows that of anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin, who announced Sunday he would end his involvement in opposition politics amid growing pressure from the Russian authorities. Read more about: Politics , Chelyabinsk , Regions , Elections Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Regions Calling: Kremlin Clamps Down on Communists Ahead of State Duma Elections Communist Party members in the Altai region are under increasing pressure ahead of the State Duma elections. Experts say that's by design. 6 Min read News Analysis Russians to Vote in Regional Elections the Kremlin Can’t Fully Script Some of this week’s races might see genuine competition instead of the scripted displays of loyalty that typically define Russian elections. 5 Min read The Kremlin’s Creeping Nationalizations Hit Chelyabinsk Businesses These seized assets are likely destined to be transferred to regime loyalists, analysts agreed. 4 Min read In Small-City Russia, Elections Feel Irrelevant For Local Business Owners Saransk’s entrepreneurs are divided on whether the government is on their side, but discontent is unlikely to be reflected in the coming Duma vote.