"The "taboo" of criticizing Russia's President Vladimir Putin has been weakened in a development that likely led to a prominent pro-war blogger deciding to call him out, according to UK intelligence.
Ivor Girkin, a Russian ultra-nationalist, was arrested on extremism charges on Friday after he called Putin a "cowardly mediocrity.""
https://www.businessinsider.com/taboo-of-criticizing-putin-breaking-pro-war-blogger-trashes-him-uk-intel-2023-7
"A prominent Russian military blogger, who has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin and his military leaders for not fighting harder in Ukraine, was arrested in Moscow on Friday.
Igor Girkin, also known as Igor Strelkov, was detained at his home on Friday morning and is facing extremism charges, according to his wife, Miroslava Reginskaya. He appeared in a Moscow courtroom later on Friday.
The pro-war blogger had ratcheted up his criticism of Putin in recent days, calling the Russian leader a “lowlife” and “cowardly bum.”"
https://www.yahoo.com/news/russia-arrests-prominent-military-blogger-183000603.html
"A prominent Russian pro-war blogger who has criticized President Vladimir Putin and his military’s mishaps in Ukraine was arrested on Friday, in a move that suggested the Kremlin’s patience with dissent has grown thinner in the wake of the Wagner mercenary rebellion last month.
Igor Girkin, a former KGB officer who helped Russia seize Crimea and was convicted of mass murder for his role in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in eastern Ukraine, was taken from his home in Moscow by security agents on Friday and charged with “extremist activity,” according to state media and a post on his Telegram account attributed to his wife."
https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/21/europe/igor-girkin-arrest-russia-intl/index.html