Anti-War Protests Spread Across Russia

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Feb. 25 – As is invariably the case, anti-war actions in Moscow have attracted the most attention not only because of the Moscow-centric nature of the Russian system but also because that is where most journalists and diplomats are located and where demonstrations are perhaps most likely to affect the Kremlin.

            But popular opposition to Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine is far more widespread. There have been protests in at least 59 cities and more than two-thirds of Russia’s regions, according to surveys by OVD-Infor (t.me/ovdinfo/13316) and the 7x7 news agency which tracks developments outside of the capital (7x7-journal.ru/news/2022/02/25/kakie-rossijskie-regiony-vystupili-protiv-vojny-rossii-s-ukrainoj-v-odnoj-kartinke).

          Some regions such as in the North Caucasus may not have had demonstrations because officials there have routinely demonstrated just how quickly and massively they will move against other forms of protest. But others where demonstrations have not been recorded may in fact have had them but word has not yet reached even this monitoring news agency.