Russian police have arrested around 300 young people, including minors, during a raid on a gathering of alternative subcultures in central Moscow. Those detained have reported being beaten and mistreated while in police custody.
According to media reports, the operation took place over the weekend in the Kitay-Gorod district, a popular meeting spot for teenagers and young people associated with alternative subcultures.
Police described the raid as a “preventive operation”, but accounts from detainees and their families have raised serious concerns about how those taken into custody were treated.
The young people arrested alleged that they were beaten and denied access to food, water and toilets while being held.
Following the arrests, parents of the minors gathered outside police stations, demanding the release of their children.
Another major concern involves military recruitment. According to Russian media reports, some of the detained adults were issued military call-up notices, while others were allegedly forced to sign contracts for military service.
