In Russia, opponents of the war in Ukraine brave the risks of repression
Russian police arrest a protester in Saint Petersburg, February 24, 2022. AP - Dmitry Lovetsky
Text by: RFI Follow
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In Moscow as in Saint Petersburg, thousands of Russians demonstrated this Thursday, February 24 to protest against the invasion of Ukraine launched by President Vladimir Putin.
These prohibited gatherings resulted in numerous arrests.
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According to the NGO OVD-Info, more than 1,700 people were arrested in several Russian cities, more than half of them in Moscow alone.
On Place Pouchkine, in the heart of the capital, Agence France-Presse witnessed the arrest of dozens of people who were chanting “
No to war!
".
People marching through central Moscow this evening chanting “No to War!”
pic.twitter.com/BTQ3ZOGTan
— Matthew Luxmoore (@mjluxmoore) February 24, 2022
Among the approximately 2,000 people who came to Moscow to denounce the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, some have relatives in this country.
Despite the brutal repression that has befallen civil society, with a particularly dark year 2021, several groups of protesters had gathered in the afternoon and early evening in Moscow.
Pushkin Square, adjoining the main Tverskaya Avenue which descends to the Kremlin, was squared by the police, following a call on social networks.
The Ministry of the Interior, the prosecution and the Investigative Committee – the body responsible for the main criminal investigations – had all warned the Russians against any protest action.
The Investigative Committee pointed out that participants in rallies over “
the tense foreign policy situation
” or clashes faced prosecution.
“
We remind you that calls to participate and direct participation in such unauthorized actions carry serious legal consequences,
” he warned.
Human rights activist Marina Litvinovich was arrested for a few hours for calling for a protest.
In a video-statement on Facebook, Marina Litvinovich called on Russian citizens across the country not to be afraid and to protest Russia's attack on Ukraine.https://t.co/QGi0m5JY8G
— Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (@RFERL) February 24, 2022
Security forces in Russia have broken up anti-war protests in several cities across the country after Russian troops launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
pic.twitter.com/ZTceDscdfB
— Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (@RFERL) February 24, 2022
Even outside the demonstrations, most Russians interviewed by AFP said they were against this war, even if some gave their support to President Putin.
Saint-Petersburg this evening, “no to war”.
It may not be much given the magnitude of what is happening, but by Russian standards it is a lot.
pic.twitter.com/Mt8MZ11aUk
— Benoît Vitkine (@benvtk) February 24, 2022
(
With
AFP)
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