In the centre of Moscow on the evening of 7 November, security forces carried out a large-scale raid, during which they detained more than 200 young people, including minors. Those detained were taken to police stations, where adult men were handed summonses to report to military recruitment offices. According to reports in the Russian media, even students with valid deferrals from conscription received these documents. Some of those detained also reported being beaten and subjected to ill-treatment by the police.
Briefly about the main points
- On 7 November, large-scale arrests of young people, including minors, took place in Moscow.
- According to Russian media reports, more than 200 young people have been detained.
- Adult men were handed summonses to report to military recruitment offices, including students with deferred service.
- Some of those detained reported being beaten and subjected to ill-treatment by the police.
- The Moscow Ministry of Internal Affairs described the raids as preventative measures to maintain public order.
Security forces were detaining young people on the streets and outside bars
A large-scale police operation took place in the Kitay-Gorod district, a popular area amongst Moscow’s young people. According to eyewitnesses, more than ten police vans arrived at Gorka Park. Law enforcement officers began detaining people on the surrounding streets, near cafés, bars and shops.
According to Baza, the number of people detained exceeded 200. Other Russian media outlets report that over a hundred people have been detained, whilst some sources cite even higher figures. The Moscow police have not released an official figure.
Many of those detained were minors. Some teenagers were taken to the Basmanny and Tagansky police stations, where their parents waited for hours for them to be released. Eyewitnesses claim that the police were even taking away people who were simply walking down the streets and had not disturbed the peace.
Men were handed call-up papers, including students with deferred service
Reports about … attracted particular attention the service of summonses directly at police stations. According to the released detainees, adult men were brought in in groups of around ten, given documents instructing them to report to the military recruitment office, and then sent back.
«Oсторожно, новости» reports that even students with an official deferment from conscription have received call-up notices. One of those detained confirmed to RBC journalists that, following a check of his documents at the Tagansky police station, he was handed a military call-up notice.
According to another eyewitness, the law enforcement officers also offered the adult detainees the chance to sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defence. It is not known whether anyone accepted this offer.
The mere fact of being served with a summons does not mean automatic conscription or being sent to war. At the same time, the circumstances surrounding its issuance during mass detentions have raised questions amongst young people and their relatives.
Those detained claimed they had been beaten whilst in police custody
Several participants in the raid told journalists about the use of physical force. In particular, a 15-year-old teenager stated that the police had beaten those detained, whilst one of the girls reported that their mobile phones had been damaged.
Other eyewitnesses spoke of being held for long periods in overcrowded police vans without being able to contact their relatives. The parents of the minors complained that they had not been told why their children had been detained, nor had they been informed when they would be released.
The Moscow police described the arrests as preventative measures
The Main Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Moscow confirmed that the raid had taken place, but explained that it was necessary to maintain public order. According to the official account, the security forces were investigating possible administrative offences, in particular the consumption of alcohol in public places.
The police reported that those detained were taken to police stations to establish the facts of the case, and that appropriate measures would be taken against those found to have broken the law.
At the same time, the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ statement does not explain why the men were handed summonses to appear at military registration and enlistment offices during such an operation. Nor has the ministry commented on the allegations of beatings or the offers to sign military contracts.
