‘We Don’t Want War’, Anti-Putin Protests spread across Russia

Following the recent attacks on Ukraine, thousands of people in Russia have protested against President Vladimir Putin’s action.

According to OVD-Info, an independent Russian human rights project, more than 1,700 people were arrested in at least 47 cities across the nation as protesters took to the streets.

• Russian forces break into Ukrainian capital
• Ukrainians take cover in metro stations as Russian forces approach capital city

Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, spoke out against the attacks during a court hearing,  but members of the Russian political elite remained silent.

He Said “I have no method of communicating with the outside world. I ask that my appeal to the court and to the world be recorded.”

“I am against this war. I believe that this war between Russia and Ukraine is being waged to cover up the robbery of Russian citizens and to distract their attention from the problems that exist within the country from the degradation of the economy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Russian authorities have been striving to discourage participation in anti-war demonstrations.

The Investigative Committee of Russia released a statement discouraging “unauthorized events” that were “associated with the tense foreign policy situation.”

“We remind that calls for participation and direct participation in events that are not authorized in accordance with the established procedure entail serious legal consequences,” the committee said.

“The law provides for severe punishment for organizing mass riots, as well as for resisting law enforcement officers.”