Opponents of the war with Ukraine gathered on Pushkin Square in Moscow

According to eyewitnesses, several hundred opponents of the war in Ukraine gathered on the streets of Moscow tonight on Pushkin Square. People are chanting "No to war!" One by one, riot police pull out peaceful demonstrators and put them into buses parked nearby. There are many young people among the protesters.

Protests and pickets were held in other Russian cities. There are reports of arrests. In Syktyvkar, all 30 protesters were arrested.

Previously, the Russians were warned about the responsibility for holding unauthorized actions. The corresponding appeal was posted on its official website by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. Similar statements were issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Moscow Prosecutor's Office. The Russian law enforcement agencies recalled that calls for participation and direct participation in uncoordinated events "entail serious legal consequences." Sanctions up to imprisonment can be applied to organizers of actions. In particular, Article 280 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Public calls to carry out extremist activity”) implies a punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to 5 years. And under article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Incitement of hatred or enmity, as well as humiliation of human dignity”), imprisonment for up to 6 years threatens.

OVD-Info (considered to be a foreign agent - noted by NI) reported that more than 700 participants in anti-war actions that took place in 40 cities of Russia were detained. Most of the protesters were detained in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Kaliningrad and Perm. Human rights activists they say they arrest both passers-by and journalists.