Russia detains journalists at Moscow protest by soldiers’ wives

At least 27 people were detained as a group representing the wives of mobilised soldiers gathered to lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument
For several weeks, the wives of mobilised men sent to Ukraine have been staging protests outside the Kremlin walls, demanding the men be brought home

RussiaAgenciesPublished: 10:12pm, 3 Feb, 2024Why you can trust SCMP

Dozens of people were detained by police in central Moscow on Saturday at a rally protesting against Russia’s mobilisation of men to fight in Ukraine, a human rights group said.

At least 27 people were detained as a group representing the wives of mobilised soldiers gathered at the Kremlin wall to lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument, said OVD-Info, which reports on freedom of assembly in Russia.

Most of the detained were journalists, it added, saying later that some of the people were let go.

A number of people were also detained at other locations in central Moscow, OVD-Info said.

A detained Agence France-Presse video journalist said the Russian and foreign reporters were transported in a van to a police station.

Maria Andreeva, in white, whose husband was mobilised in 2022 to join Russian armed forces in Ukraine, visits the election headquarters of President Vladimir Putin in January with other wives of mobilised servicemen to demand the return from the frontline of their husbands, sons and brothers. Photo: Reuters

The group of all male reporters were detained as they covered and filmed the women walking up to Red Square.

Video footage showed police bringing reporters wearing yellow press vests to police vans.

For several weeks, the wives of mobilised men have been staging protests outside the Kremlin walls, demanding the men be brought home.

The movement has grown out of the anger of relatives of reservists sent to Ukraine under President Vladimir Putin’s September 2022 mobilisation decree.

The movement – extremely sensitive for authorities – has so far gone unpunished.

It has been ignored by state media, with Russia having strict censorship laws.

People walk toward the border crossing between Georgia and Russia in September 2022 after Moscow announced a partial military mobilisation for its war in Ukraine. Photo: AP

The topic is especially uncomfortable for the Kremlin ahead of the March presidential election, in which Putin is running for a fifth Kremlin term.

The Moscow prosecutor’s office said that the rally had not been coordinated with the authorities, issuing a warning about calling and taking part in unauthorised mass events.

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Russia detains journalists at Moscow protest by soldiers’ wives

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