Primary school kids 'behind bars for waving anti-war banners at protest in Russia', politician claims
02.03.2022 - 13:37
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Primary school children were held by police in the back of a van for waving anti-war placards at a protest in Russia, an opposition politician has claimed.
Ilya Yashin shared what appeared to be a picture of three children holding banners in the back of a police van on social media.
The disturbing images follow widespread world protest over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Thousands of Russians have taken to the streets to oppose Vladimir Putin's brutal war, risking their lives and freedom despite a police crackdown on demonstrations.
Almost 7,000 people have already been detained in as many as 50 cities, according to the human rights project OVD-Info.
Tweeting pictures of the primary school-aged children, Mr Yashin said: "Nothing out of the ordinary: just kids in paddy wagons behind an anti-war poster," reports The Mirror.
"This is Putin's Russia, folks. You live here."
One of the children can be seen holding a sign which translates as 'no to war'.
The Moscow politician, who backs Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, added on Facebook : "The realities of Putin's Russia, guys.
"I am sure that the Kremlin propaganda will now raise a war: do not involve children in politics! They are to blame!
"I don't know how these kids ended up at the protest. Maybe they came by themselves, maybe with their parents.
"But in fact, many generations in our country (were) taught from the school bench that the worst thing is war, and the main value is the peaceful sky above the head.
"I remember very well how in my native Tushin school N172 we used to draw anti-war posters and stengazets behind the desk. And that's ok!
"Children against war is damn normal! Children should absorb anti-war ideas with breast milk. And now this is equal to