Russian police on Saturday arrested more than 700 people during protests against the mobilization of reservists to fight in Ukraine, according to a decree issued by President Vladimir Putin this week, a non-governmental organization said.
According to the human rights organization OVD-Info, “at least 710 people were arrested in 32 cities” across Russia, about half of them in Moscow.
In the Russian capital, a large police force has been deployed in the central district of Chisti Prodi, according to AFP correspondents.
Most of the demonstrators present were walking around or just standing alone or in small groups to avoid detection and arrest. Despite this, AFP witnessed the arrest of about twenty people.
“We are not cannon fodder,” a young woman said as she was led away by anti-people police, repeating one of the slogans raised by those who rejected the military mobilization to fight in Ukraine.
In Saint Petersburg (northwest), the second city of the country, AFP witnessed about thirty people being taken to a police bus.
Here, too, the objectors tried to move cautiously.
Ilya Frolov, 22, held a small banner with the word “Freedom” written on it. “I want to express my rejection of what is happening (…) I do not want to fight for Putin,” he said.
“I am against war and mobilization. I am afraid for young people,” said Natalia Dubova (70 years).
When President Vladimir Putin announced the mobilization decision on Wednesday, about 1,400 demonstrators were arrested across Russia.
Some reported that the authorities handed them an order to mobilize at the police station.
The Kremlin defended the measure, saying it was not “illegal”.
Demonstrations against the attack on Ukraine are being severely repressed in Russia. And to stop thousands since the conflict began in February.
On the other hand, hundreds gathered Friday in Moscow and St. Petersburg in support of the attack and to annex areas controlled by Russia.
And on Saturday, Putin signed amendments that stipulate a prison sentence of up to ten years for military personnel who desert or refuse to fight during the mobilization period, which is currently in force.
These amendments to the Penal Code, approved by Parliament this week, were issued in the Official Gazette of the Government, and entered into force.
Soldiers who flee or turn themselves in to the enemy “without permission”, refuse to fight or disobey orders in the mobilization phase are given prison sentences of up to ten years.
Whoever engages in looting is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.