Police Round Up Moscow Youths
Preventive action
was the explanation given by authorities after Russian police detained hundreds of young people in central Moscow on the night from Saturday to Sunday, Meduza and The Moscow Times reported.
Officers targeted courtyards, bars, cafes, and parks using ten prisoner transport vehicles. Estimates put the number of detained informally
dressed youths at up to 300 individuals.
Police pressured detainees into military contracts and denied basic needs
Police attempted to pressure detainees who had reached the age of 18 into signing military contracts for the war against Ukraine, according to news sites Meduza and The Moscow Times. Those over 18 received summonses to report to the military enlistment office.
Detainees were held for hours without water or access to restrooms, and some were beaten by officers, Meduza reported. Parents gathered outside the precinct but were not allowed inside to see their children.
Authorities justified sweeps through public order offenses and administrative charges
Law enforcement officially classified the sweep as a preventive measure aimed at ensuring public order. At least 17 of the detainees faced administrative charges related to public alcohol consumption, intoxication offending human dignity, or disobeying police orders, The Moscow Times reported.
Ekaterina Mizulina, a well-known snitch, criticized authorities on social media for barring parents from reaching underage detainees when police hold no legal right to keep minors longer than three hours.
Frequent Sweeps in Kitaj-Gorod
While Meduza noted this operation was the largest of its kind in central Moscow, similar roundups occur frequently. Authorities have carried out six such sweeps in the Kitaj-Gorod district alone since the beginning of the year.
How many young people were detained in Moscow?
How many young people were detained in Moscow?
Estimates reported by Meduza and The Moscow Times place the number of detained youths at up to 300 individuals.
What did police want the adult detainees to do?
Officers pressured young men who had reached 18 years of age to sign contracts for military service in Ukraine, according to reports from Meduza and The Moscow Times.
Were minors held during the operation?
Yes, teenagers were among those detained, and police refused to let parents enter the precinct, drawing criticism from public figures like Ekaterina Mizulina.