Several children were arrested for demonstrating in front of the Ukrainian embassy in Moscow with their parents. They were released after the intervention of a lawyer.
Shocking photos in the midst of the war in Ukraine. Five children between the ages of 7 and 11, accompanied by their parents, were arrested by Moscow police while holding “No to War” signs on March 1st. This scene took place in front of the Ukrainian embassy in the Russian capital.
Russian opposition lawmaker Ilya Yashin spread the case by posting photos on his Twitter account showing three of these young children behind bars, in a police van or during questioning.
“This is Putin’s Russia.”
“Nothing unusual, just children in police vans behind anti-war signs. This is Putin’s Russia, friends. You live here,” the parliamentarian wrote on social media.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba spoke sharply in response to the photos, also speaking on Twitter.
Thousands of protesters have been arrested
“Putin is at war with children when his missiles hit kindergartens and orphanages in Ukraine, just like in Russia. David (7 years old), Sofia (9 years old), Matvev (11 years old), Gosha and Lisa spent the night behind bars in Moscow for their “NO TO WAR” signs. That shows how scared he is, “said a close friend of President Vladimir Zelensky.
The children were eventually released after a lawyer intervened, the Guardian reported.
Demonstrations against the war in Ukraine are still banned in Russia, officially for health reasons. According to the NGO OVD-Info6,472 protesters have been arrested in the country since last Thursday.