Authorities in Russia warn against anti-war protests

Protestors in Russia are reminded of the "negative legal consequences" of their actions

By Kelly McClure

Nights & Weekends Editor

Published February 24, 2022 6:28PM (EST)

An airport vehicle pulls a shipment of weapons that include Javelin anti-tank missiles and other military hardware delivered by the U.S. military at Boryspil Airport near Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 25. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
An airport vehicle pulls a shipment of weapons that include Javelin anti-tank missiles and other military hardware delivered by the U.S. military at Boryspil Airport near Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 25. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Following Putin's "special military operation" put into action against Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday morning, anti-war protestors have been taking to the streets. In Russia, the country's Investigative Committee has issued an official warning to protestors, urging them to take consequences into consideration, according to CNN. In their statement, those who find themselves "In connection with the spread of calls for participation in riots and rallies related to the tense foreign policy situation," could face "negative legal consequences of these actions, which include prosecution and up to criminal liability."

In reports such as one published by The New York Times on Thursday, the many different ways in which Russian citizens are rallying against the decisions of Putin are highlighted. According to the NYT report, Moscow police blocked off access to Pushkinskaya Square in the city center, after protestors began to gather. Police at the scene were said to be clearing the mostly young crowd, some of which were heard chanting "No to war!" while holding Ukraine flags.

Related: Putin leaves Republicans splintered and confused

The NYT report of early anti-war protests in Russia linked to a video showing police in St. Petersburg outfitted in helmets and riot gear to break up protestors who had gathered in support of Ukraine. While reports like these are growing in number, social media is flooded with live reports from various protests around the area.


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By mid-Thursday, protestor arrests are growing in number with "over 290 people arrested in Moscow, 128 in St Petersburg, 50 in Perm and 37 in Yekaterinburg," according to OVD-Info. 

"Russians are deeply terrified of arrests and court trials over rallying people to go out and protest," Marina Agaltsova, a lawyer with the Russian human rights group Memorial said in a quote used by The Washington Post

Protests crying out against the war against Ukraine are continuing to pop up in areas across the world as this event develops.

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By Kelly McClure

Kelly McClure is Salon's Nights and Weekends Editor covering daily news, politics and culture. Her work has been featured in Vulture, The A.V. Club, Vanity Fair, Cosmopolitan, Nylon, Vice, and elsewhere. She is the author of Something is Always Happening Somewhere.

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Protest Putin Russia Ukraine