As their president oversees a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, thousands of Russians took to the streets in Moscow to protest the war. Nearly 1,000 were detained, according to to OVD-Info, a Russia-based human rights organization.
Earlier in the day, Russian human rights activist Marina Litvinovich called for mass anti-war protests. In a Facebook video, she said:
“I know that many of you right now feel desperate, powerless, and ashamed over the attack by [President] Vladimir Putin on the friendly people of Ukraine. But I call on you not to be desperate and come out to the central squares of your cities at 7 p.m. today and clearly and explicitly say that we, the people of Russia, are against the war unleashed by Putin.”
Litvinovich was promptly detained by Russian police, according to Reuters.
Russia’s Investigative Committee warned its citizens to avoid Litvinovich’s fate, saying in a statement “In connection with the spread of calls for participation in riots and rallies related to the tense foreign policy situation,” there are “negative legal consequences of these actions, which include prosecution and up to criminal liability.”
“It should be remembered that holding a criminal record holds negative consequences and leaves a mark on the person’s future,” the Investigative Committee added.
Still, many Russians were undeterred. The Wall Street Journal’s Matthew Luxmoore captured video of a stream of protesters demonstrating through central Moscow.
Business Insider reports:
Videos of protesting Russians taking to the streets in multiple cities, including in St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk, emerged less than a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a war on Ukraine early Thursday.
One video posted by Russian news outlet Novaya Gazeta showed a group of people gathered in St. Petersburg with some being hauled away by authorities.