Moscow Rally Detentions
Moscow police detain dozens of protesters during a Communist Party anniversary rally.
Anonymous
Key Points
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The authorized rally took place at Krasnopresnenskaya Zastava Square and included a procession and flower-laying at a memorial to the defenders of the White House. One report estimated that about 2,000 people attended, including members of Yabloko, Marxist organizations and independent activists.
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Reports differed over whether Yabloko members were among those detained: one account said activists from the party were arrested, while Yabloko said it had no information that its members attended the rally or were detained and disputed the claim.
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The slogans reported at the rally extended beyond those in the summary: SOTAvision reported chants of “No to political repression,” “Remove the party of crooks and thieves,” “We want freedom” and “Remove Roskomnadzor.”
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Accounts of the 1993 violence also give casualty figures: Russian authorities said 123 people were killed, while unofficial estimates put the toll in the hundreds.
Moscow police detained about 60 people at an authorized Communist Party rally on October 4, with reports saying most were young activists. Kyiv Independent reported that detentions happened after participants chanted slogans like "Down with the Tsar," "Freedom for political prisoners," and "For fair elections." The rally marked the 30th anniversary of the 1993 assault on Russia's parliament.
The event drew about 2,000 people to Krasnopresnenskaya Zastava Square, including members from Yabloko, Marxist groups, and independent activists. The Moscow Times said the rally turned into a protest against alleged fraud in recent parliamentary elections. Witnesses reported that police used force during the detentions, though accounts of exactly what happened varied.
A Party Rally That Became a Protest
The Communist Party organized the rally to honor those killed in the 1993 constitutional crisis. Dagens reported that Russian authorities said 123 people died in that attack on parliament, though unofficial estimates put the number in the hundreds. The party typically supports the Kremlin and backs Russia's war in Ukraine, making the anti-government chants unusual for the event.
Participants chanted multiple slogans beyond the main ones reported. SOTAvision documented calls to "Remove the party of crooks and thieves," "No to political repression," "We want freedom," and demands to remove Roskomnadzor, Russia's media watchdog. These chants showed frustration that goes deeper than just election concerns.
Confusion Over Who Was Arrested and Why
Different news outlets gave different numbers for those detained. Some reports said around 20 people were arrested, while others, including The Moscow Times, cited the Communist Party's claim of 60 detentions. The variation made it hard to know the exact scale of police action.
A key disagreement emerged over whether Yabloko party members were among those detained. Kyiv Independent reported that activists from Yabloko were arrested, but Yabloko itself said it had no information that its members attended or were detained. The party disputed the claim entirely, adding to the confusion.
Rising Tensions Over Political Freedom in Russia
The rally happened amid growing public frustration over Ukrainian drone strikes hitting Russian territory and their effects on civilians. News.inbox.eu noted the event was coordinated as a response to alleged fraud in recent parliamentary elections. The detentions signal how sensitive the Kremlin is to any anti-government expression, even at officially approved events.
Most detainees were young people, The Moscow Times reported. This pattern suggests younger Russians may be willing to take greater risks to voice political dissent. The police response shows how Moscow treats even authorized gatherings that veer into criticism of authorities.
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