Moscow’s alternative teens have made a downtown nightlife district their weekend hangout. Drunken fights are driving customers away — and police are targeting the teenagers for how they dress.

In the summer of 2025, teenagers with unconventional clothing styles began to gather in Kitay-Gorod, a central Moscow neighborhood, and quickly became the main attraction for alternative subcultures. The young members of these subcultures, often referred to as "nefors," quickly became a cause for concern for local café and bar owners, as their rowdy behavior, excessive drinking, shouting, and fighting drove customers away.

Over the course of the past year, police have intensified their surveillance of Kitay-Gorod, particularly targeting the "nefors" based on their appearance. Police officers often approach the group, demanding identification, and sometimes even resort to physical force. However, the main reason for intervention seems to be the intoxicated and combative behavior of the "nefors."

As reported by Bereg, a cooperative of independent journalists, Kitay-Gorod has become the primary gathering spot for these teenagers, who come from various subcultures and are easily recognizable by their distinctive clothing. The police presence has increased significantly during weekend nights, with police vehicles patrolling the area frequently.

Patrons of local bars and cafés express frustration with the "nefors" and their disruptive behavior. The older generation reminisces about the good old days when subcultures had a sense of identity and purpose, while the younger generation is seen as simply being obnoxious and unwelcome.

Despite the negative perception of the "nefors," some patrons in the bar still acknowledge that each individual should be judged based on their own behavior rather than their appearance. They remember that subcultures in the past also had their own unique styles and values, but now the teenagers are just causing trouble.