Support forces of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny had called on people to protest against the Russian attack across Russia today.
13.3. 16:53 • Updated March 13th. 17:18
Russian authorities have blocked anti-war protests in Moscow.
Manege Square, declared a demonstration site, was partially closed before the protest was scheduled to begin. The adjacent Red Square was completely closed to people.
In the heart of Moscow, a large number of police officers and members of the National Guard and a special force of OMON checked people’s identity cards and backpacks. Part of the authorities had glued the letter Z to their helmets, which has become a symbol of support for Russia’s hostilities.
‘s correspondent Erkka Mikkonen saw dozens of people caught. Authorities immediately arrested the people who revealed the protest sign, but the majority of the arrests were rough.
According to the NGO OVD-info, by half past four Finnish time, about 600 people were arrested in more than 30 cities.
Those who spoke to reporters were caught
A retired woman interviewed by Erkka Mikkonen comments on the authorities’ actions as “illegal confusion”. Some passers-by, on the other hand, did not understand at all why the Moscow city center is full of riot police and arrest cars.
Mikkonen saw police taking several people to arrest cars as they tried to talk to reporters
Police did not visit journalists with attention vests in Manege Square. The NGO OVD-info says that journalists who have registered with the press have also been apprehended in St. Petersburg.
The imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalnyin support forces had called on people to protest against the Russian attack today, Sunday.