Russia's first trans politician announced her de-transition after authorities allegedly threatened to lock her up in a psychiatric ward.
Yulia Alyoshina confirmed on social media in May that she "realized" she was a man and made the decision to revert back to her birth name, Roman Alyoshin, and sex, according to the Moscow Times, Radio Free Europe, and Reuters.
"I went through old albums of my ancestors, prayed for them, and it helped the idea set in that I'm a guy," Alyoshin wrote on the Telegram messenger app, the Times reported. "I'm a patriot of my country, that's why I live in Russia. I apologize to all the Russian people!"
Alyoshin later admitted he made the public confession after receiving "insider information that the Russian authorities want to lock me up in a psychiatric hospital," the outlet reported, citing local news outlet Novaya Gazeta Baltiya.
"I made posts on my Telegram channel in May and June because of this stress," Alyoshin said. "I've been under severe stress since winter."
The dubious announcement came after President Vladimir Putin banned gender affirmation surgery earlier this year and tightened laws against the country's LGBTQ+ community.
In 2023, Alyoshin abandoned a bid to run for governor in Siberia's Altai region.
Alyoshin retired from politics after the Supreme Court ruled the LGBTQ+ population an "extremist movement."
