1,300 arrested as protests spring up across Russia

Putin has met the latest stirrings of dissent against his regime with force. More than 1,300 Russians have been arrested this evening at protests against forced mobilisation. While it’s not known how many exactly have taken to the streets, protests on this scale have not been seen in the country since Putin invaded Ukraine seven months ago. Chanting ‘No to war’ and ‘Putin get in the trenches’, crowds including both men and women, young and old, have gathered in open defiance of the Kremlin’s intention to send a further 300,000 reservists into a warzone.

Protests have broken out in Moscow following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order for a partial mobilization, with chants on "No War!" and "Putin, get in the trenches!"pic.twitter.com/6B5vUpMGlR

— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) September 21, 2022

According to OVD News – the Russian human rights organisation keeping tally of arrests – at the time of writing, protests are taking place in at least 38 cities. The fact that Russians are willing to take to the streets to protest illustrates that opposition to the war in Ukraine does exist. Those demonstrating face fines of up to 50,000 roubles (approximately £700) while repeat offenders risk up to 15 years of jail time.

More than 500 protestors have been arrested in locations across St Petersburg and Moscow, while 40 have so far been arrested in Yekaterinburg. Other cities where people have been detained include Krasnodar and Irkutsk. Footage has already begun to emerge of police clad in riot gear using force on protestors, beating them violently and forcibly lifting and dragging them towards police vans. Further videos have shown up to thirty protestors packed into each. The number of arrests will continue to grow over the course of the evening.