Russian Police Detain Over 3,000 Anti-War Protesters, Human Rights Organization Says

Topline

Russian police have detained at least 3,052 people protesting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Russian human rights organization OVD-Info said Saturday, as Russians took to the streets in more than 30 cities.  

Key Facts

At least 469 Russians in 34 cities have been detained on Saturday alone, roughly half of them in Moscow, according to OVD-Info. 

Russian police have moved to crack down on anti-war protests, warning that unauthorized rallies are illegal.

To dodge police, some Russian protesters on Saturday chose to stage one-person protests in Moscow and other city squares in the country and some took to the streets in small groups to move nimbly from one place to another, the Washington Post reported, while hundreds rallied in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg shouting “No to war!”

Twitter said Saturday it was being restricted for “some people” in Russia, following similar restrictions other social media platforms such as Facebook have experienced that have made it more difficult for Russians to share their opposition to Russia’s actions and get information on the war in Ukraine.

Key Background

Despite attempts to curb the public’s anger over the invasion, prominent Russians have taken their opposition to social media. Lisa Peskova, daughter of Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, posted to Instagram in Russian, “No to war.” In a recorded speech shared on Facebook Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the anti-war protesters in Russia, saying, “To all citizens of the Russian Federation who are coming out to protest, I want to say we see you. It means that you heard us.” Anti-war protesters worldwide from Washington, D.C., to Tokyo to Tel Aviv took to the streets to show solidarity with Ukraine and urge governments to take stronger action. 

Further Reading

Nearly 2,700 people detained in anti-war protests in Russia since Thursday, monitoring site says (CNN)  

Defiant Zelenskyy Says Russia Will Be Forced To Negotiate, Thanks Russian Anti-War Protestors (Forbes)

In Photos: Anti-War Protesters Around The World Rally In Support Of Ukraine (Forbes)