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Hundreds of people have been detained in a large police operation in central Moscow. Authorities say that the raids were part of a preventative security measure, but teenagers and parents describe a very different picture, alleging mistreatment in custody and claiming that some adults were handed military recruitment notices. The crackdown targeted a popular gathering spot for young people where alternative subcultures have been meeting for years. They've kept us here in for 3 hours already. There's no water, no food. We're hungry. They kicked us and hit us. A major police operation unfolded in central Moscow overnight into Sunday.
Around 300 young people were detained. According to media reports, videos posted on social media show large groups being rounded at by police. They detained everyone at Kitai Gorod were still being driven somewhere. The parents have come to pick up all the minors. What's happening is just awful. Outside Moscow's Tagansky Police Station, angry parents and relatives gathered demanding the release of those detained.
Release the children. We'll tear this place apart if you don't let the children out. Some detaininees were released after several hours. Administrative charges were filled against 17 people for drinking alcohol in public places. Russian media also reported that adults among those detained were handed military recruitment notices. We spent 2 and 1/2 hours in the police van. They didn't give us food, nothing at all. We couldn't even go to the toilet and they took our IDs, brought us to the station where we had to wait for a long time. After that, everyone was given draft notices.
They told us that because this is a central district, this kind of thing happens all the time here. They said our children shouldn't be in the city center, especially on weekends. And for what reason? Because of the situation in our country, everyone over 18 who was on those buses was offered a contract with the Ministry of Defense. Moscow police described the operation as a preventive measure. For several years, youth gatherings near the metro station Kitai Gorot have become a regular source of headlines and viral videos. Many participants identify themselves as nefare, short of informals, young people belonging to various alternative youth subcultures who gather in the area in the evenings and at night.
Most of the meetings are not organized in advance. Some teenagers say they go to Kitigorat simply because they know that something is always happening there. Police raids in the area have intensified since this summer. Some young people detained during previous operations have alleged that riot police officers used violence against them. Just a week earlier, crowds had gathered at Kitorat to celebrate Halloween. a holiday increasingly criticized by Russian authorities. That event also ended with police detentions. And yet whether shouted ironically or sincerely, those chance of Russia
putting victory didn't prevent another police operation just a week later as officers once again swept through the area, detaining hundreds of young people. Let's get more on this. We're joined by Yuri Oedto, who is reporting from the Latvian capital, Ria, as DW is banned from reporting in Russia. Yuri, why did police target this gathering in particular? Target this gathering in particular? Well, first of all, uh, Sarah, this wasn't the first raid there. Police operations like this happen pretty regularly on this part of central Moscow. Uh, what's different this time is, uh, the scale. We are talking about
reports of up to 300 detentions, which is unusually high. Uh, police always give the same explanation, maintaining public order. But it's worth remembering, Sarah, that or where this happened. Kitigorat is just a short walk from the Kremlin in Red Square. It's packed with bars, bars and restaurants and nightlife spots. Uh, and young people have been uh hanging out there for decades. In recent years, it's become a meeting place for what's known as neuro, basically young people from different alternative subcultures. Uh, some have long hair, some shaved half heads, uh, some identify with various uh, youth movements including nationalist groups. Officially, public drinking is enough for police to intervene. But what we saw this weekend was a much bigger and much tougher
operation than usual. And what do we know about reports that detainees received military recruitment notices? Military recruitment. Yes. Uh those reports are coming from detaininees themselves. Uh according to their accounts, all young men were handed draft notices and people over the age of 18 were encouraged to sign contracts with Russian military. Uh and honestly that's not entirely surprising. Um human rights groups uh and independent media have been reporting for quite some time that uh police and military recruiters often work hand in hand. Um the idea basically is simple. If someone is detained for an
administrative offense, they are sometimes given a choice. They can face the legal consequences or they can sign a contract with the ministry of defense. Uh there are also plenty of allegations of pressure and intimidation in theaa these cases. Uh some men say they were uh threatened or even beaten. Others claim they were told they could face more serious charges if they refused. What's remarkable here is that it happened on such a large scale right in the center of Moscow. Previously most of these stories tended to come from Russia's regions rather than the capital.
Why has this particular area um Yuri become such a focus for the authorities? such focus for the authorities. Well, part of the answer is actually pretty simple. Kitigorat is one of Moscow's most expensive and prestigious area areas, Sarah. And uh and not everyone likes seeing hundreds of, let's say, teenagers gathering there late at night. Uh residents frequently complain about noise, drinking, and occasional drug use. Uh and there are often the ones calling the police. Once police arrive, the scenario is usually pretty the same. uh large numbers of people are checked, some are detained, and increasingly anyone over 18 may be approached by military recruiters. So, while these operations are officially
about public order, they've also become a way for authorities to keep a close eye on groups of young people and in some cases to feed military recruitment efforts. Yuri, just briefly, what does this raid um tell us about the pressure on young people in Russia today? Well, what's important I is to say that this wasn't a political protest. These young people weren't out there chanting anti-government slogans or protesting the war. But in today's Russia era, where open political opposition is extremely difficult, even something as simple as looking different can be viewed with suspicion. For many
of these teenagers, it's really about identity, music, fashion, or simply hanging out with friends. But authorities often see independent youth cultures as potentially unpredictable. And that's probably the bigger story here. The fact that hundreds of young people can be swept up in police operations simply for gathering in a public space shows just how little room there is these days for anything that falls outside the norm in Russia. DW's Yuri Rashetto, thank you so much.
