At least 3,500 arrested in Russia’s anti-war rallies

International Desk, Mar 6 (EFE).- Thousands of people on Sunday were arrested in anti-war rallies in Russia to demand an end to the invasion of Ukraine.

At least 3,500 people were arrested in a series of unauthorized protests that took place in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities, the Russian interior ministry spokesperson, Irina Volk, said according to Taas and Interfax.

Some 2,500 demonstrators took to Moscow’s streets, 1,700 of whom were arrested, while half of the 1,500 people who took part in the St Petersburg rallies were detained, according to the source.

Another 1,200 people held unauthorized demonstrations in other regions of the country, of which 1,061 were arrested, Volk added.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Sunday encouraged people to defy the authorities and take to the streets in Moscow and St. Petersburg to demand an end to the invasion of Ukraine.

Russian authorities had advised people against protesting threatening them with prison sentences. EFE

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