Police detain more than 2,000 people at protests held in 48 cities across Russia
27 February 2022 - 22:29
byReuters
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People gather at Brandenburg Gate to protest against the ongoing war in Ukraine in Berlin, Germany, February 27 2022 Picture: HANNIBAL HANSCHKE/ GETTY IMAGES
Moscow — Police detained more than 2,000 people at antiwar protests held in 48 cities across Russia on Sunday, a protest monitoring group said, as people defied the authorities to show their anger over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
More than 5,500 people have been detained at various antiwar protests since the invasion began on Thursday, according to the OVD-Info monitor, which has documented crackdowns on Russia's opposition for years.
In Moscow, riot police often outnumbered protesters, some of whom carried handwritten placards with peace signs and antiwar slogans in Russian and Ukrainian. Some wore masks with the word “Enough” emblazoned in the front.
Tens of thousands of people across Europe marched in protest against Russia’s invasion on Sunday, with 100,000 people protesting in solidarity with Ukraine in Berlin.
A reporter for the independent television channel Dozhd was arrested during the protests despite showing his accreditation to the police and wearing a press vest.
Outside the upmarket Gostiny Dvor department store in downtown Saint Petersburg, hundreds of protesters stood together, linking arms and chanting.
Police detain a man as people take part in an antiwar protest against Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Moscow, Russia February 27 2022. Picture: EVGENIA NOVOZHENINA/REUTERS
Sunday’s protests coincided with the seventh anniversary of the murder of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov.
In Moscow some of the arrests took place at an improvised memorial just outside the Kremlin at the site where Nemtsov was shot, a Reuters witness said. “No to war!” shouted one of the demonstrators as he was being dragged away by the police.
Nemtsov was a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin, Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and Moscow’s support for pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine, which ultimately led to what Putin labels a “special operation” to protect the two separatist regions though his troops are fighting in wider Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Western allies have slapped unprecedented sanctions in response to Russia's land, sea and air invasion.
Putin ordered his military command to put nuclear-armed forces on high alert on Sunday as Ukrainian fighters defending the city of Kharkiv said they had repelled an attack by invading Russian troops.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Ukraine solidarity protests spread across Europe
Police detain more than 2,000 people at protests held in 48 cities across Russia
Moscow — Police detained more than 2,000 people at antiwar protests held in 48 cities across Russia on Sunday, a protest monitoring group said, as people defied the authorities to show their anger over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
More than 5,500 people have been detained at various antiwar protests since the invasion began on Thursday, according to the OVD-Info monitor, which has documented crackdowns on Russia's opposition for years.
In Moscow, riot police often outnumbered protesters, some of whom carried handwritten placards with peace signs and antiwar slogans in Russian and Ukrainian. Some wore masks with the word “Enough” emblazoned in the front.
Tens of thousands of people across Europe marched in protest against Russia’s invasion on Sunday, with 100,000 people protesting in solidarity with Ukraine in Berlin.
A reporter for the independent television channel Dozhd was arrested during the protests despite showing his accreditation to the police and wearing a press vest.
Outside the upmarket Gostiny Dvor department store in downtown Saint Petersburg, hundreds of protesters stood together, linking arms and chanting.
Sunday’s protests coincided with the seventh anniversary of the murder of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov.
In Moscow some of the arrests took place at an improvised memorial just outside the Kremlin at the site where Nemtsov was shot, a Reuters witness said. “No to war!” shouted one of the demonstrators as he was being dragged away by the police.
Nemtsov was a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin, Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and Moscow’s support for pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine, which ultimately led to what Putin labels a “special operation” to protect the two separatist regions though his troops are fighting in wider Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Western allies have slapped unprecedented sanctions in response to Russia's land, sea and air invasion.
Putin ordered his military command to put nuclear-armed forces on high alert on Sunday as Ukrainian fighters defending the city of Kharkiv said they had repelled an attack by invading Russian troops.
Reuters
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