On Saturday, Russian law enforcement detained at least two dozen individuals in Moscow. The gathering of those detained was comprised primarily of journalists covering the event and human rights activists, rather than participants of the protest. The attendees were rallying for the return of Russian service members currently engaged in conflict in Ukraine.
The demonstration was set around the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, outside the Kremlin walls in the Alexander Garden. It marked 500 days since President Vladimir Putin ordered the “partial mobilisation” of up to 300,000 military reservists for the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine in September 2022. This led to a mass exodus of more than 260,000 men from Russia, with reports indicating that Moscow set up drafting offices at borders to apprehend the fleeing reservists.
A push by the wives and relatives of the 2022 mobilized reservists for their discharge and subsequent replacement with contract soldiers has been ongoing. This campaign was led by the group known as the Way Home, which issued an invitation via Telegram on Friday, encouraging “wives, mothers, sisters, children” of reservists and “all concerned citizens across the nation” to assemble in Moscow and “demonstrate our unity”.
This action is a recent addition to a series of similar demonstrations instigated by the Way Home group, which has been vocal in demanding the end of mobilisation and advocating for the signing of a decree cancelling mobilisation.
Endorsements for the protest came from opposition to the Kremlin, including the team of jailed politician Alexey Navalny, who expressed support via a public declaration stating, “the movement for complete demobilization must be supported. This is a direct path to ending the war.”
The human rights advocacy group OVD-Info recorded that at least 27 individuals were apprehended outside the Kremlin, largely journalists, and transferred to the Kitay Gorod police department in police van. Men wearing yellow “press” vests were spotted being guided into a van, and Telegram channel Sirena reported that all those filming the protests were detained.
A later report indicated that additional journalists covering the protest at Putin’s campaign headquarters found themselves detained and transferred to the Basmanny police precinct. The journalists detained at the Kitay-Gorog department were released
later the same day by security forces. Those released were predominantly foreign journalists and correspondents, who were let go without charges after providing explanations. Some were issued warnings about the inadmissibility of illegal actions.
Moscow prosecutor’s office warned of possible repercussions for those “calling for and participating in uncoordinated mass events.” The officials declared the event to be unauthorized by the city executive authorities and warned of “liability established by Russian legislation for organizing and participating in the event.”