MOSCOW --
Shocked Russians turned out by the hundreds Thursday to decry their nation's invasion of Ukraine as emotional requires protests grew on social media. Some 1,745 individuals in 54 Russian cities have been detained, not less than 957 of them in Moscow.
A whole bunch of posts got here pouring in condemning Moscow's most aggressive actions because the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Vladimir Putin referred to as the assault a “particular navy operation” to guard civilians in japanese Ukraine from “genocide” - a false declare the U.S. had predicted could be a pretext for invasion, and which many Russians roundly rejected.
Tatyana Usmanova, an opposition activist in Moscow, wrote on Fb that she thought she was dreaming when she awoke at 5:30 a.m. to the information, which she referred to as “a shame that will probably be endlessly with us now.”
“I wish to ask Ukrainians for forgiveness. We did not vote for individuals who unleashed the struggle,” she mentioned.
As sirens blasted in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, and enormous explosions have been heard there and in different cities, Russians have been signing open letters and on-line petitions demanding the Kremlin halt the assault, which the Ukrainian well being minister mentioned had killed not less than 57 Ukrainians and wounded dozens extra.
“Public opinion is in shock, individuals are in shock,” political analyst Abbas Gallyamov instructed The Related Press.
One petition, began by a distinguished human rights advocate, Lev Ponomavyov, garnered over 150,000 signatures inside a number of hours and greater than 330,000 by the top of the day. Greater than 250 journalists put their names on an open letter decrying the aggression. One other one was signed by some 250 scientists, whereas 194 municipal council members in Moscow and different cities signed a 3rd.
“I am fearful in regards to the individuals very a lot, I am fearful to tears,” mentioned Zoya Vorobey, a resident of Korolyov, a city exterior Moscow, her voice cracking. “I have been watching tv since this morning, each minute, to see if something modifications. Sadly, nothing.”
A number of Russian celebrities and public figures, together with some working for state TV, spoke out towards the assault. Yelena Kovalskaya, director of a state-funded Moscow theater, introduced on Fb she was quitting her job, saying “it is unimaginable to work for a killer and receives a commission by him.”
“I do know that proper now a lot of you are feeling desperation, helplessness, disgrace over Vladimir Putin's assault on the pleasant nation of Ukraine. However I urge you to not despair,” human rights activist Marina Litvinovich mentioned in a video assertion on Fb, calling for mass protests Thursday night.
“We, the Russian individuals, are towards the struggle Putin has unleashed. We do not assist this struggle, it's being waged not on our behalf,” Litvinovich mentioned.
However the authorities have been having none of that.
In Moscow and different cities, they moved swiftly to crack down on crucial voices. Litvinovich was detained exterior of her residence shortly after posting the protest name. OVD-Information, a rights group that tracks political arrests, reported that 1,745 individuals in 54 cities had been detained by Thursday night, not less than 957 of them in Moscow.
Russia's Investigative Committee issued a warning Thursday afternoon reminding Russians that unauthorized protests are towards the regulation.
Roskomnadzor, state communications and media watchdog, demanded that Russian media use “data and information they get solely from official Russian sources.” Some media reported that staff of sure state-funded corporations have been instructed to not remark publicly on the occasions in Ukraine.
Human rights advocates warned of a brand new wave of repression on dissent.
“There will probably be new (prison) instances involving subverters, spies, treason, prosecution for antiwar protests, there will probably be detentions of journalists and bloggers, those that authored crucial posts on social media, bans on investigations of the state of affairs within the military and so forth,” distinguished human rights advocate Pavel Chikov wrote on Fb.
“It's laborious to say how huge this new wave will probably be, on condition that the whole lot has been suppressed already.”
Regardless of the stress from the authorities, greater than 1,000 individuals gathered within the middle of Moscow Thursday night, chanting “No to struggle!” as passing automobiles honked their horns.
A whole bunch additionally took to the streets in St. Petersburg and dozens in Yekaterinburg.
“That is probably the most shameful and horrible day in my life. I even was not in a position to go to work. My nation is an aggressor. I hate Putin. What else needs to be executed to make individuals open their eyes?” Yekaterina Kuznetsova, 40-year-old engineer who joined the demonstration in St. Petersburg, instructed the AP.
Russia's official line within the meantime remained intransigent. Speaker of the higher home of parliament, Valentina Matviyenko charged that those that spoke out towards the assault have been solely caring about their “momentary issues.”
State TV painted the assault consistent with what Putin mentioned in his televised tackle saying it.
Russia 1 TV host Olga Skabeyeva referred to as it an effort “to guard individuals in Donbas from a Nazi regime” and mentioned it was “with out exaggeration, an important junction in historical past.”
AP author Kirill Zarubin contributed to this report from Korolyov, Russia.
Demonstrators march with a banner that reads: "Ukraine - Peace, Russia - Freedom", in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, after Russia's assault on Ukraine. (AP Photograph/Dmitry Serebryakov)
Police officer detain a demonstrator throughout an motion towards Russia's assault on Ukraine in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (AP Photograph/Dmitry Serebryakov)
Police officer detain a lady throughout an motion towards Russia's assault on Ukraine in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. AP Photograph/Dmitry Serebryakov)
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