{
  "id": 18371030,
  "title": "After condemning Latvia’s support for Kyiv, activist moves to Russia and is sent to fight in Ukraine, relatives say",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/after-condemning-latvias-support-for-kyiv-activist-moves-to-russia",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T20:52:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Meduza (English)",
    "slug": "meduza-english",
    "url": "https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/11/05/after-condemning-latvia-s-support-for-kyiv-activist-moves-to-russia-and-is-sent-to-fight-in-ukraine-relatives-say"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sergey Mulivanov, a 59-year-old activist from Latvia, moved to Russia two years ago due to his disagreement with the country's policies. He strongly supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine and criticized the Latvian government for aligning closer with the West and restricting Russian influence. Mulivanov ran a blog and wrote for Russian propaganda outlets, eventually obtaining citizenship and working as a courier in the Moscow region.\n\nIn April, Mulivanov was arrested and charged with fraud. He maintains his innocence, but his relatives claim he was tricked into signing a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry while in pretrial detention. Late October, he was informed that he would be sent to the front, and despite submitting a written statement withdrawing from the contract, he was taken to Rostov-on-Don against his will in late October. Reports indicate that he has type 2 diabetes and polyneuropathy, and his health has deteriorated while in pretrial detention. His defense requests for a medical examination have also gone unaddressed.\n\nThe Russian authorities offer criminal suspects a choice: face trial or go to fight in Ukraine. Meduza has reported several instances of the Russian government tricking prisoners into enlisting in the military, including a man with an intellectual disability who faced threats and abuse while serving in the army.",
  "summary": "Sergey Mulivanov, a 59-year-old activist with the Latvian Russian Union who moved to Russia two years ago, was charged with fraud and sent to fight in the war against Ukraine, his lawyer, relatives, and acquaintances told the news outlet Ostorozhno, Novosti.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Melania Trump hosts Ukraine, Russia officials, calls for ‘more enduring’ truce",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/melania-trump-hosts-ukraine-russia-officials-calls-for-more-enduring",
        "published": "2026-11-05T17:25:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "Ukraine, Russia share stage at Melania Trump's event, only Kyiv calls for more Oleshky-style missions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/ukraine-russia-share-stage-at-melania-trumps-event-only-kyiv-calls",
        "published": "2026-11-05T18:05:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Trump predicts major Russia deal beyond Ukraine",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/trump-predicts-major-russia-deal-beyond-ukraine",
        "published": "2026-11-05T22:24:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}