In Moscow, police made a series of arrests in Bolotnaya Square, where action against internet blockades was previously planned.
how Reports SotaVision, since the morning there has been an increased police presence in the Bolotnaya Square area, documents of random passersby were checked, and several paddy wagons were parked nearby.
The “Cautious News” channel reported that utility services began painting the benches in the park during the day. police limited Passage from the square to the Bolshoi Kameny Bridge leading to the Kremlin.
By 15:00 (the time the demonstration started) there were a lot of police officers and a few people in the square. “People are walking around and from their conversations it is clear that they are here for a reason.” He said Eyewitness Sota Vijn. Caution News reported that most of those in the square were teenagers. Judging by video recordings from the scene, there were at least a dozen people gathered.
At approximately four o’clock in the afternoon, the police began calling on those in the square to leave. They explained their demand to bypass Bolotnaya by the fact that “an event is taking place in the Kremlin.” Eyewitnesses said: “They said that if they ordered us to be handcuffed, they would handcuff us.”
At the time of writing, at least eight people were detained in Bolotnaya Square, Reports “OVD Information”. A man was arrested carrying a “No to war” sign. Two of the detainees are minors.
Updated. Number of detainees more Up to 12 people.
First thing in the morning detained 72-year-old human rights activist Alexander Podrabink to take photos of people who came to the square. Police officials said he was “detained to obtain information about previous crimes.”
Activists tried to coordinate marches against the internet blockade on March 29 across the country, but were rejected everywhere. The authorities interpreted it for a number of reasons – from the threat of drone strikes to the Covid pandemic. The police then visited many of the organizers.
Only in Penza, the authorities did not initially object to holding a march on March 29 (planned in Hyde Park, where the law does not require official approval) – but later officials still banned the march, explaining that at the same time as the march, an open skating training session would be held on site.