Mikhail Khodorkovsky
@khodorkovsky.com
A leader of the Russian opposition, reformer. Ex-political prisoner (2003–2013). Follow for insights on current events in Russia and beyond.
My book 'How to Slay a Dragon: Building a New Russia After Putin' is available here — https://a.co/d/ai95jkW
My book 'How to Slay a Dragon: Building a New Russia After Putin' is available here — https://a.co/d/ai95jkW
A Russian man who yelled at an 11-year-old for wearing a hat with a 'Z' on it just got 4.5 years in a maximum-security prison.
🧵 He was already serving time when he said the wrong thing to 8 inmates.
[1/9]
🧵 He was already serving time when he said the wrong thing to 8 inmates.
[1/9]
November 25, 2025 at 4:34 PM
A Russian man who yelled at an 11-year-old for wearing a hat with a 'Z' on it just got 4.5 years in a maximum-security prison.
🧵 He was already serving time when he said the wrong thing to 8 inmates.
[1/9]
🧵 He was already serving time when he said the wrong thing to 8 inmates.
[1/9]
We must stop the killing immediately. But we cannot do so by sacrificing Ukraine's sovereignty.
Giving into Kremlin's calculated attempts to disarm the victim is dangerous as it can trigger a bigger and more dangerous war in Europe. 🧵 1/4
Giving into Kremlin's calculated attempts to disarm the victim is dangerous as it can trigger a bigger and more dangerous war in Europe. 🧵 1/4
November 24, 2025 at 6:19 PM
We must stop the killing immediately. But we cannot do so by sacrificing Ukraine's sovereignty.
Giving into Kremlin's calculated attempts to disarm the victim is dangerous as it can trigger a bigger and more dangerous war in Europe. 🧵 1/4
Giving into Kremlin's calculated attempts to disarm the victim is dangerous as it can trigger a bigger and more dangerous war in Europe. 🧵 1/4
The epitome of Putin's fear: drummer Vladislav Leontyev in a St. Petersburg courthouse.
He's part of a young street band that performed songs by artists declared "foreign agents."
He's part of a young street band that performed songs by artists declared "foreign agents."
November 3, 2025 at 10:23 PM
The epitome of Putin's fear: drummer Vladislav Leontyev in a St. Petersburg courthouse.
He's part of a young street band that performed songs by artists declared "foreign agents."
He's part of a young street band that performed songs by artists declared "foreign agents."
Putin's biggest fear has been exposed.
As a Russian dissident who spent 10 years in his prisons, I can tell you it's not sanctions or missiles. It's the rising legitimacy of the Russian opposition.
🧵 And that legitimacy just got a major boost.
As a Russian dissident who spent 10 years in his prisons, I can tell you it's not sanctions or missiles. It's the rising legitimacy of the Russian opposition.
🧵 And that legitimacy just got a major boost.
October 31, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Putin's biggest fear has been exposed.
As a Russian dissident who spent 10 years in his prisons, I can tell you it's not sanctions or missiles. It's the rising legitimacy of the Russian opposition.
🧵 And that legitimacy just got a major boost.
As a Russian dissident who spent 10 years in his prisons, I can tell you it's not sanctions or missiles. It's the rising legitimacy of the Russian opposition.
🧵 And that legitimacy just got a major boost.
Trump's new sanctions won't work, but Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv might. Putin isn't a politician, he's a mob boss who only understands force.
🧵Here's why the recent talk of long-range weapons has rattled him, and what needs to happen next: [1/12]
🧵Here's why the recent talk of long-range weapons has rattled him, and what needs to happen next: [1/12]
October 29, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Trump's new sanctions won't work, but Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv might. Putin isn't a politician, he's a mob boss who only understands force.
🧵Here's why the recent talk of long-range weapons has rattled him, and what needs to happen next: [1/12]
🧵Here's why the recent talk of long-range weapons has rattled him, and what needs to happen next: [1/12]
In 2019, Putin pompously opened a gas pipeline to China.
Just 6 years later, having lost its lucrative European market, Gazprom finds itself drowning in a staggering $72.7 billion of debt 1/9
[1/11]
Just 6 years later, having lost its lucrative European market, Gazprom finds itself drowning in a staggering $72.7 billion of debt 1/9
[1/11]
October 27, 2025 at 7:20 PM
In 2019, Putin pompously opened a gas pipeline to China.
Just 6 years later, having lost its lucrative European market, Gazprom finds itself drowning in a staggering $72.7 billion of debt 1/9
[1/11]
Just 6 years later, having lost its lucrative European market, Gazprom finds itself drowning in a staggering $72.7 billion of debt 1/9
[1/11]
This is Sergey, a 19-year-old Russian conscript. He refuses to fight in Ukraine, and warns that any contract 'signed' by him would be coerced.
🧵 Sergey is far from alone — [1/8]
🧵 Sergey is far from alone — [1/8]
October 24, 2025 at 6:10 PM
This is Sergey, a 19-year-old Russian conscript. He refuses to fight in Ukraine, and warns that any contract 'signed' by him would be coerced.
🧵 Sergey is far from alone — [1/8]
🧵 Sergey is far from alone — [1/8]
I am not an expert but... is Putin's ombudswoman, who has an ICC arrest warrant for unlawfully transferring Ukrainian kids, on camera casually admitting to... unlawfully transferring a Ukrainian kid?
October 22, 2025 at 8:04 PM
I am not an expert but... is Putin's ombudswoman, who has an ICC arrest warrant for unlawfully transferring Ukrainian kids, on camera casually admitting to... unlawfully transferring a Ukrainian kid?
If you had any illusions about Putin's rule and his war, look at this: a regular Russian school.
A boy in tactical gear stands while classmates kick him; his peers were shown photos of corpses and not allowed to call parents.
1/5🧵(Read on)
A boy in tactical gear stands while classmates kick him; his peers were shown photos of corpses and not allowed to call parents.
1/5🧵(Read on)
October 22, 2025 at 6:31 PM
If you had any illusions about Putin's rule and his war, look at this: a regular Russian school.
A boy in tactical gear stands while classmates kick him; his peers were shown photos of corpses and not allowed to call parents.
1/5🧵(Read on)
A boy in tactical gear stands while classmates kick him; his peers were shown photos of corpses and not allowed to call parents.
1/5🧵(Read on)
Is Putin's grip on power weaker than it seems?
I believe so. A single misstep could be his last.
🧵 Here're his top 3 vulnerabilities
I believe so. A single misstep could be his last.
🧵 Here're his top 3 vulnerabilities
October 21, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Is Putin's grip on power weaker than it seems?
I believe so. A single misstep could be his last.
🧵 Here're his top 3 vulnerabilities
I believe so. A single misstep could be his last.
🧵 Here're his top 3 vulnerabilities
Putin now calls me a terrorist — for nothing more than opposing his war.
This means life in prison if I return to Russia and it's nothing new. What's truly unpleasant is that this label authorizes violence against me and my allies abroad. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXtO...
This means life in prison if I return to Russia and it's nothing new. What's truly unpleasant is that this label authorizes violence against me and my allies abroad. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXtO...
Exiled Russian oligarch: Putin sent signal to Trump he's ready for Ukraine deal
YouTube video by Sky News
www.youtube.com
October 20, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Putin now calls me a terrorist — for nothing more than opposing his war.
This means life in prison if I return to Russia and it's nothing new. What's truly unpleasant is that this label authorizes violence against me and my allies abroad. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXtO...
This means life in prison if I return to Russia and it's nothing new. What's truly unpleasant is that this label authorizes violence against me and my allies abroad. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXtO...
This 23-year-old woman was strangled in Yerevan, Armenia.
Originally from Chechnya, Aishat Baimuradova left Russia because she wanted to life freely.
🧵A year later, it seems, the Chechen dictator got to her.
[1/17]
Originally from Chechnya, Aishat Baimuradova left Russia because she wanted to life freely.
🧵A year later, it seems, the Chechen dictator got to her.
[1/17]
October 20, 2025 at 4:18 PM
This 23-year-old woman was strangled in Yerevan, Armenia.
Originally from Chechnya, Aishat Baimuradova left Russia because she wanted to life freely.
🧵A year later, it seems, the Chechen dictator got to her.
[1/17]
Originally from Chechnya, Aishat Baimuradova left Russia because she wanted to life freely.
🧵A year later, it seems, the Chechen dictator got to her.
[1/17]
3,319 Russian arrests vs 12,000 UK arrests for speech.
Tucker Carlson
implies Russia is as democratic as Britain—if not more.
🧵It's not. Here's what he is leaving out
Tucker Carlson
implies Russia is as democratic as Britain—if not more.
🧵It's not. Here's what he is leaving out
October 1, 2025 at 5:45 PM
3,319 Russian arrests vs 12,000 UK arrests for speech.
Tucker Carlson
implies Russia is as democratic as Britain—if not more.
🧵It's not. Here's what he is leaving out
Tucker Carlson
implies Russia is as democratic as Britain—if not more.
🧵It's not. Here's what he is leaving out
Europe seems to be tied to the idea that sanctions alone can stop Putin’s war
🧵In reality, they will never be enough
Without a credible military posture, sanctions are only an inconvenience (Read on)
🧵In reality, they will never be enough
Without a credible military posture, sanctions are only an inconvenience (Read on)
September 26, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Europe seems to be tied to the idea that sanctions alone can stop Putin’s war
🧵In reality, they will never be enough
Without a credible military posture, sanctions are only an inconvenience (Read on)
🧵In reality, they will never be enough
Without a credible military posture, sanctions are only an inconvenience (Read on)
BEYOND DOUBT: The Putin regime runs a state-sponsored program to assassinate political opponents with military-grade chemical weapons.
🧵 Navalny's death was part of it, and the Dossier Center findings suggest his 2020 poisoner finished the job in prison
🧵 Navalny's death was part of it, and the Dossier Center findings suggest his 2020 poisoner finished the job in prison
September 22, 2025 at 5:36 PM
BEYOND DOUBT: The Putin regime runs a state-sponsored program to assassinate political opponents with military-grade chemical weapons.
🧵 Navalny's death was part of it, and the Dossier Center findings suggest his 2020 poisoner finished the job in prison
🧵 Navalny's death was part of it, and the Dossier Center findings suggest his 2020 poisoner finished the job in prison
There are thousands of Russians in U.S. immigration detention
Several hundred anti-war activists among them face grave danger if deported to Russia.
🧵 We're ready to help identify those most at risk
Several hundred anti-war activists among them face grave danger if deported to Russia.
🧵 We're ready to help identify those most at risk
September 12, 2025 at 5:43 PM
There are thousands of Russians in U.S. immigration detention
Several hundred anti-war activists among them face grave danger if deported to Russia.
🧵 We're ready to help identify those most at risk
Several hundred anti-war activists among them face grave danger if deported to Russia.
🧵 We're ready to help identify those most at risk
As the Kremlin prepares to block WhatsApp for 100 million users, it’s launching a state messenger called MAX.
It's a mandatory platform designed with a deliberate flaw: zero privacy from security services.
🧵Here's how it links every message to a citizen's state ID:
It's a mandatory platform designed with a deliberate flaw: zero privacy from security services.
🧵Here's how it links every message to a citizen's state ID:
September 10, 2025 at 2:20 PM
As the Kremlin prepares to block WhatsApp for 100 million users, it’s launching a state messenger called MAX.
It's a mandatory platform designed with a deliberate flaw: zero privacy from security services.
🧵Here's how it links every message to a citizen's state ID:
It's a mandatory platform designed with a deliberate flaw: zero privacy from security services.
🧵Here's how it links every message to a citizen's state ID:
The drone attack on Polish territory is a test of NATO - something I (and others) have warned about many times.
If there’s no forceful response, there will be repetition and then war spreading into “old” Europe.
If there’s no forceful response, there will be repetition and then war spreading into “old” Europe.
September 10, 2025 at 1:15 PM
The drone attack on Polish territory is a test of NATO - something I (and others) have warned about many times.
If there’s no forceful response, there will be repetition and then war spreading into “old” Europe.
If there’s no forceful response, there will be repetition and then war spreading into “old” Europe.
The diplomatic chaos around Ukraine is what happens when all sides realize their positions have become unsustainable.
Every major actor has hit their limit.
🧵Here’s why I believe a path to Peace in Ukraine is real:
Every major actor has hit their limit.
🧵Here’s why I believe a path to Peace in Ukraine is real:
September 7, 2025 at 6:25 PM
The diplomatic chaos around Ukraine is what happens when all sides realize their positions have become unsustainable.
Every major actor has hit their limit.
🧵Here’s why I believe a path to Peace in Ukraine is real:
Every major actor has hit their limit.
🧵Here’s why I believe a path to Peace in Ukraine is real:
When Russian model Guzel Ganieva threatened Epstein's network in 2015, he turned to an unusual source: Sergei Belyakov, the FSB-trained official running Putin's St. Petersburg Economic Forum.
🧵Here's how Epstein worked with Putin's regime:
🧵Here's how Epstein worked with Putin's regime:
September 3, 2025 at 9:29 PM
When Russian model Guzel Ganieva threatened Epstein's network in 2015, he turned to an unusual source: Sergei Belyakov, the FSB-trained official running Putin's St. Petersburg Economic Forum.
🧵Here's how Epstein worked with Putin's regime:
🧵Here's how Epstein worked with Putin's regime:
Putin's "Christianity" at full display: a 63-year-old pastor sentenced for preaching peace.
Nikolai Romanyuk called war a sin and urged believers to refuse the draft.
🧵For this, a Russian court sentenced him to 4 years under laws against "threats to state security."
Nikolai Romanyuk called war a sin and urged believers to refuse the draft.
🧵For this, a Russian court sentenced him to 4 years under laws against "threats to state security."
September 3, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Putin's "Christianity" at full display: a 63-year-old pastor sentenced for preaching peace.
Nikolai Romanyuk called war a sin and urged believers to refuse the draft.
🧵For this, a Russian court sentenced him to 4 years under laws against "threats to state security."
Nikolai Romanyuk called war a sin and urged believers to refuse the draft.
🧵For this, a Russian court sentenced him to 4 years under laws against "threats to state security."
This is Nikolai Romanyuk, pastor of the Evangelical Church of the Holy Trinity in Moscow.
How many years in prison do you think he got for this speech?
How many years in prison do you think he got for this speech?
September 3, 2025 at 5:51 PM
This is Nikolai Romanyuk, pastor of the Evangelical Church of the Holy Trinity in Moscow.
How many years in prison do you think he got for this speech?
How many years in prison do you think he got for this speech?
10 months in U.S. immigration detention made a Russian antiwar activist do the unthinkable: ask to be sent back to Putin's Russia, knowing terrorism charges awaited him.
🧵The U.S. Immigration system broke Leonid Melekhin so completely that a Russian prison seemed like mercy
🧵The U.S. Immigration system broke Leonid Melekhin so completely that a Russian prison seemed like mercy
September 1, 2025 at 6:36 PM
10 months in U.S. immigration detention made a Russian antiwar activist do the unthinkable: ask to be sent back to Putin's Russia, knowing terrorism charges awaited him.
🧵The U.S. Immigration system broke Leonid Melekhin so completely that a Russian prison seemed like mercy
🧵The U.S. Immigration system broke Leonid Melekhin so completely that a Russian prison seemed like mercy
The United States is now Putin's deportation partner.
Russian political refugees who sought safety in the U.S. are being returned on charter flights. Upon return, they face hours-long interrogations by security services.
🧵Here's what is known about the latest flight:
Russian political refugees who sought safety in the U.S. are being returned on charter flights. Upon return, they face hours-long interrogations by security services.
🧵Here's what is known about the latest flight:
September 1, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The United States is now Putin's deportation partner.
Russian political refugees who sought safety in the U.S. are being returned on charter flights. Upon return, they face hours-long interrogations by security services.
🧵Here's what is known about the latest flight:
Russian political refugees who sought safety in the U.S. are being returned on charter flights. Upon return, they face hours-long interrogations by security services.
🧵Here's what is known about the latest flight:
I spent 10 years in Putin's prisons for the crime of political participation. Now he's counseling Trump about "rigged" elections.
🧵It's not my business to tell Americans how to conduct elections, but taking Putin's advice here is like taking fire safety tips from an arsonist
🧵It's not my business to tell Americans how to conduct elections, but taking Putin's advice here is like taking fire safety tips from an arsonist
August 29, 2025 at 5:51 PM
I spent 10 years in Putin's prisons for the crime of political participation. Now he's counseling Trump about "rigged" elections.
🧵It's not my business to tell Americans how to conduct elections, but taking Putin's advice here is like taking fire safety tips from an arsonist
🧵It's not my business to tell Americans how to conduct elections, but taking Putin's advice here is like taking fire safety tips from an arsonist