Dozens detained at a rally in Moscow held by Kremlin-friendly Communist Party, party says

On Sunday, Russian authorities detained approximately 60 individuals at a rally organized by Russia's Kremlin-friendly Communist Party, according to the party. The demonstration took place in Moscow and marked the anniversary of the 1993 crackdown by the Kremlin on a parliamentary uprising. The Communist Party stated that the detentions occurred as the rally was concluding and that they are actively working to secure the release of those who were arrested, predominantly young participants.

The rally coincided with mounting public discontent in Russia due to intensified Ukrainian drone attacks targeting infrastructure, leading to fuel shortages and disruptions in daily life, including in Moscow. The event unfolded amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which Russia has been supporting. The Communist Party, a prominent force in the Russian parliament since the 1990s, is led by 82-year-old Gennady Zyuganov, a former Soviet official.

The party has consistently backed the war in Ukraine while criticizing certain government policies, all the while avoiding any criticism of President Vladimir Putin.