Canadian Prof. Radhika Desai asks Vladimir Putin to investigate the detention of Boris Kargalitsky

In the summer of 2023, Russian dissident Boris Kargalitsky was detained by Russian authorities on a charge of making online calls for terrorism. In October, while Kargalitsky remained in detention, Canadian Professor Radhika Desai travelled to Moscow to attend a major conference organized by the Valdai Club, a prestigious Russian think tank. At that conference, Russia President Vladimir Putin delivered a keynote speech. During the extensive Q&A which followed Putin's speech, Desai was afforded the opportunity to ask Russia's President two questions. Desai's first question sought Putin's reaction to the standing ovations given by Canada's Parliament in September 2023 to former Waffen SS member, Yaroslav Hunka. Desai's second question to Putin related to Boris Kargalitsky. Describing Kargalitsky as a "dear friend", Desai said that Kargalitsky had been detained in Russia, and that she and other friends of his "are very worried about his personal welfare". She asked Putin to read a letter that she and others had written in regard to Kargalitsky's detention. Putin responded to Desai by 'promising' that he would read Desai's letter and react to it. Kagarlitsky was released on December 12, 2023 after four-and-a-half months in jail. He was fined 600,000 rubles (around 6,000 euro) and faces restricted internet access for two years, avoiding further time in prison.