Russia bans protests against Ukrainian invasion in capital

In a statement Friday, the city mentioned the body's pandemic in the reasoning of the ban.

The authorities did not reveal who had applied for gatherings and for what reason.

The opposition party, Yabloko, however, had sharply criticised the invasion of Ukraine by President Vladimir Putin and announced it would organise a protest march in Moscow.

According to an independent Meduza news report, the demand for protest has also had from supporters of what the Kremlin calls the “special military operation” in Ukraine.

The demonstrations have been banned in Moscow for a long time because of the pandemic.

Recently, however, people took to the streets in dozens of Russian cities to protest the war in Ukraine, despite facing arrests, major fines, and police violence.

Thousands have been arrested so far.

In Moscow, the city administration received several applications for protests of 25,000 to 100,000 participants, he said.

Yabloko called on opponents of the war in Ukraine to make their opposition to social media and organise petitions.