Russia: Activists plan protest on Millennium Square, Kazan, Feb. 14

Event

Civil rights and political groups are planning to demonstrate in central Kazan, Tatarstan Republic, Feb. 14 to denounce the detention and alleged repression of political activists. Participants will gather from 1130 on Millennium Square (Ploshchad Tysyacheletiya), near the Kazan Kremlin. Local authorities have granted permission for the event, though due to local coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions, participation is prohibited from exceeding 200 people. The protest is scheduled to disperse by 1500.

Authorities will likely deploy additional police in the vicinity of the demonstration. Associated crowd-control measures, including possible movement restrictions, could prompt localized disruptions. Security forces are likely to disperse any protesters if they attempt to demonstrate beyond the agreed parameters or breach COVID-19 attendance ceilings or social distancing mandates. Police are also liable to disperse authorized demonstrations if they are deemed to be disruptive; officers will not hesitate to use force if resisted. While bystanders are unlikely to be targeted, they would face an indirect physical threat.

Advice

Avoid all protests as a routine security precaution and to mitigate any associated disruptions. Anticipate security-related movement restrictions in the vicinity of Millennium Square Feb. 14. Leave the area immediately at the first sign of a confrontation.