Around 60 people detained at CPRF rally in Moscow after "Down with the Tsar" slogan

Detentions at authorised event

On 4 October in Moscow, near the monument at Selyanskaya Zastava, a rally organised by the Communist Party of the Russian Federation took place. The event was approved by the authorities and dedicated to the events of 1993, when during a political crisis in Russia, security forces stormed the building of the State Duma. According to witness estimates, up to 2,000 people gathered in the square.

The atmosphere at the scene took on a protest character after slogans such as "Геть царя" (Down with the Tsar), "За чесні вибори" (For fair elections), and demands to release political prisoners began to be heard in the crowd. Participants also chanted "Свободу політичним в'язням" (Freedom for political prisoners) and "Свободу Дмитру Морозову" (Freedom for Dmytro Morozov), while expressing dissatisfaction with the activities of the "United Russia" party and political repression.

Scale of detentions and party reactions

After these slogans were heard, law enforcement officers began detentions, which occurred in at least two waves. In total, according to Russian and international media, around 60 people were placed in police vans.

Dmytro Novikov, Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of the CPRF, confirmed these figures, noting that the detainees were mostly young people. Some of them were later released. According to eyewitnesses, among the arrested were 26 CPRF representatives, around 30 members of the "Yabloko" party, and several other activists. However, the "Yabloko" party stated that it had no confirmation of its members' participation in the event.

Use of force and context

Witnesses to the event reported physical violence by security forces during the detentions. Specifically, according to their accounts, some participants were beaten, and one woman was grabbed by the hair.

Participants of the event paid particular attention to the demand to release Dmytro Morozov, an activist from Izhevsk, who was detained on the eve of the rally. According to media reports, Morozov was preparing a protest event against election fraud.

Serhiy Bratchuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Volunteer Army and a Ukrainian military officer, drew attention to the demonstrative nature of the situation, where detentions began even at an event approved by the authorities after the appearance of slogans critical of the government.