More than 1,300 arrested in Russia in protests against the “partial mobilization” announced by Putin

This Wednesday, September 21, more than 1,300 people were arrested in Russia in protests called by the Vesna opposition movement against the “partial mobilization” decreed by President Vladimir Putin.

OVD-Info, an independent group that tracks arrests on Russian territory and has been declared a “foreign agent” in the country, said based on information it collected from 38 Russian cities that more than 1,311 people were arrested on Wednesday.

According to this entity, the largest number of detainees is concentrated in Moscow (502) and Saint Petersburg, the second most populous city in Russia, with 524 arrested.

In addition to these two cities, OVD-Info reports arrests in Yekaterinburg, Perm, Ufa, Krasnoyarsk, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk, Novosibirsk, Yakutsk, Ulan-Ude, Arkhangelsk, Korolev, Voronezh, Zheleznogorsk, Izhevsk, Tomsk, Salavat, Tyumen, Volgograd, Petrozavodsk, Samara, Surgut, Smolensk, Belgorod and other cities.

The demonstrators shouted slogans such as “no to war”, “Putin to the trench” and “the police are the shame of Russia”.

Up to 15 years in prison for participating in “illegal actions”

The Moscow Prosecutor’s Office warned that it will punish the organization and participation in “illegal actions” with up to 15 years in prison. It will also sanction administratively or criminally the dissemination of calls to participate in “illegal actions” or carry out other “illegal acts” on social networks.

According to Russia’s anti-protest laws, demonstrations that do not have express authorization from the authorities are considered illegal.

“In various regions, there were attempts to carry out unauthorized actions that brought together an extremely small number of participants. (…) They were all detained. Those who violated the laws were detained and taken to police stations to be investigated and their responsibility established. “Irina Volk, an official at the Interior Ministry, said in a statement.

Putin announced a “partial mobilization” to fight in Ukraine

In a televised speech, Putin announced the “partial mobilization” of troops, the first in Russia since World War II. A total of 300,000 reservists will be called up, specifically non-commissioned officers under 35 years of age and officers under 45 years of age.

“Military service will apply only to citizens who are in the reserves, especially those who have served in the Armed Forces, have certain military professions and relevant experience,” the Russian president assured.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov argued that Moscow is seeking to fight a potential NATO combine because Alliance members have been supplying weapons to kyiv.

Following the announcement, international flights originating in Russia soared in price and quickly sold out, amid fears that men of fighting age would not be allowed to leave.

Ukraine maintains that the “partial mobilization” announced on Wednesday in Moscow demonstrates the “inability” of the Russian professional army. For his part, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Putin’s announcement “showed panic and desperation.”

In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have recaptured territories in southern Ukraine and the entire northeastern province of Kharkiv, prompting the flight of thousands of Russian soldiers and the abandonment of military vehicles and equipment.

In addition, the number of Russian military deaths has been increasing. While Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu estimates that 5,937 of his men have been killed in the “special military operation,” the Pentagon estimates that Russia has suffered between 70,000 and 80,000 casualties.

Russia’s efforts to regain ground in the conflict

Putin accused the West of participating in “nuclear blackmail” and warned that his nation “also has various means of destruction, with separate and more modern components than those of the NATO countries,” a political-military alliance led by the United States. .

In addition, he assured that “when the territorial integrity” of Russia is being “threatened”, his country will use “all the means” at its disposal to protect the population.

Some statements that have created international tension, especially because the president said shortly after that his government will give its full support to various referendums on Ukraine’s independence (and annexation to Russia) in different parts of the occupied country. The consultations are scheduled for September 23-27, in Lugansk and Donetsk in the east, and in Kherson and Zaporizhia in the south.

The European Union plans more sanctions in response to Putin’s announcements

In response to Putin’s words, the European Union (EU) warned that there will be “consequences” that include “all aspects of the aggression; the crimes that have been committed, the referendums, the discoveries of mass burial sites.”

European Union foreign ministers are in New York for the annual meeting of world leaders at the United Nations, where they discuss new sanctions and arms deliveries to kyiv.

However, the energy supply crisis makes it difficult for the bloc of 27 to unite for a sanctions package. On Tuesday, Hungary scrapped the idea.

With EFE, AP and Reuters