In dozens of Russian cities, thousands of people went out into streets to protest against their country’s latest war against Ukraine. Cracking down on protesters, police detained over 1 700 people, French news agency AFP reports.
It must be kept in mind that draconian anti-protest legislation is in force in Russia. Despite this, thousands of ordinary Russians took to the streets across the country and chanted the slogan «No to war». Many Russian public figures voiced their opposition to war including celebrities such as TV figure and former presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak, TV figure Maxim Galkin, musician Valery Meladze and comedian Yekaterina Varnava.
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As to the largest cities, several thousand people gathered near Pushkin Square in central Moscow. Meanwhile up to 1,000 people gathered in the former capital Saint Petersburg.
The large-scale military attack on Ukraine takes place during an unprecedented crackdown on the Russian opposition, with most protest leaders assassinated, jailed or forced out of the country. Russian independent organisation OVD-Info, which reports on arrests at opposition rallies, stated that close to 1,700 people were detained in 53 Russian cities. More than 900 were arrested in Moscow and over 400 in Saint Petersburg, according to OVD-info, AFP reports.
Russia cracks down on Russians protesting against war
