- A former Russian deputy prime minister who spoke out against the Kremlin's actions in Ukraine has quit as chair of a prestigious foundation after a lawmaker accused him of a "national betrayal" and demanded his dismissal.
His comments prompted a senior ruling party lawmaker to demand that he be fired and to accuse him of being part of a "fifth column" undermining Russia. On Friday, the Skolkovo Foundation said in a statement that Dvorkovich had decided to step down. He could not be reached immediately for comment. He remains president of the International Chess Federation .
Thousands of people have been detained for protesting against Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, which officials in Moscow describe as a "special military operation" to demilitarise and "de-nazify" its former Soviet neighbour.