The Russian government on Thursday threatened anti-war protesters demonstrating against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, warning they could face arrest for organizing.
And according to a protest monitoring group, the detentions have already begun as growing protests have broken out in some Russian cities.
Russia’s Investigative Committee warned citizens in a statement not to take part in the “unauthorized” protests “associated with the tense foreign political situation.”
The committee said that people should be aware of the “negative legal consequences of these actions,” which it said includes criminal liability.
“The law provides for severe punishment for organizing mass riots, as well as for resisting law enforcement officers,” the committee said.
It added that citizens who undertake “such illegal acts may face imprisonment.”
According to protest-monitoring group OVD-Info, more than 960 anti-war demonstrators have been detained in 44 cities just before 9 p.m. local time.
Videos of protesting Russians taking to the streets in multiple cities, including in St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk, emerged less than a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a war on Ukraine early Thursday.