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Anniversary: ​​anti-war protests - hundreds of arrests, fear and silence

Anniversary: ​​anti-war protests - hundreds of arrests, fear and silence

February 24, 2023 marks one year since the start of the war. In several Russian cities, rallies and single pickets took place - people came out against the war, against the ongoing conflict. Despite the small number, the protests were accompanied by mass arrests: hundreds of protesters received fines, arrests, and administrative cases were initiated. After these actions, agitation against “destructive movements” intensified: law enforcement agencies announced that they would react harshly to “attempts to undermine public safety.” Complaints about illegal detentions, pressure on the families of detainees, and threats of dismissal in the event of political activity have become commonplace. For many - morally tired, tired of losses and news from the front - February became a month of fear: not so much for themselves, but for their loved ones. Many stopped expressing opinions out of fear of the consequences. Self-censorship has noticeably increased in society. The anniversary of the war has shown that anti-war protests, even small ones, now risk turning into repression. February 2023 became confirmation for many: there will be no more public discourse about the war.
Prisoner exchange between Russia and the USA

Prisoner exchange between Russia and the USA

In December 2022, Russia and the United States conducted a prisoner exchange: Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, convicted in the United States, was returned to his homeland in exchange for a US citizen. Russian citizen Viktor But was also exchanged - after 15 years in prison - for American basketball player Brittney Greiner. In addition, by the end of 2022, Russia released sailors from Russian ships that remained under repairs abroad after the start of the special operation. The exchange was seen as an attempt by the Kremlin to demonstrate that Russia is ready to protect its citizens abroad and use diplomatic channels even amid international isolation. The event became one of the key diplomatic news of 2022 - and slightly softened domestic and foreign political tensions.
Results of the year: military, economic and social results

Results of the year: military, economic and social results

December was a time to take stock of the year, which has become the most stressful for the country in recent decades. At the front, Russia held a significant portion of the territory, but faced heavy losses, logistical difficulties, and the consequences of mobilization. The economy has adapted, but due to falling incomes, business withdrawal, sanctions and uncertainty. The year ended with a significant reduction in imports, record levels of inflation for a number of goods and a decline in the quality of life. Society entered 2023 divided: some supported the course, some left or remained silent. The country has entered an era of high militarization, information control and international isolation.
Aggressor or security guarantor

Aggressor or security guarantor

Today, a protest rally was held at Freedom Square demanding Armenia’s withdrawal from the CSTO. Members of the European Party of Armenia marched from the Opera House toward Proshyan Street, to the residence of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, from where the prime minister was supposed to depart to welcome the President of the Russian Federation.

With placards reading “Putin out of Armenia,” “No place for terrorists here!”, and carrying the flags of Ukraine, the European Union, and the United States, protesters gathered to oppose the CSTO summit that began today in Yerevan. Presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan also arrived in Yerevan today to participate in the summit.

“Since the 1990s, in exchange for our security guarantees, we have given Russia everything imaginable—energy infrastructure, the railway, monopolies, and even joined the Eurasian Economic Union, which was not economically beneficial to us at all,” said rally participant Sipan Zargaryan, a member of the European Party of Armenia, who represented the party’s youth wing today.

“In September 2020, unfortunately, the day came when we truly needed the security guarantees that our entire nation had paid for, but instead of security, we received betrayal. Russia effectively provided political support to Azerbaijan,” declared from the stage Tigran Khzmalyan, founder of the European Party of Armenia.

It should be recalled that according to Article 4 of the Collective Security Treaty, aggression against any member state is considered aggression against all CSTO countries. Nevertheless, no military assistance was provided to Armenia by the CSTO.

Dozens of Russians who have relocated to Armenia and temporarily settled there since the beginning of the war also joined the protest. One of them, 27-year-old Dmitry, said that he follows with admiration the activities of certain opposition parties in Armenia, including the European Party, their ideology, and their courage in how they consistently fight against authoritarian regimes—in both Russia and Armenia.

Later, it became known that the police detained four individuals on Paronyan Street in Yerevan, including the leader of the European Party of Armenia, Tigran Khzmalyan.

The police press service has not yet commented on the reasons for detaining the organizers of the protest. The police department also refused to provide any information to Tigran Khzmalyan’s lawyer. This was reported by party member Sipan Zargaryan.
Crimean Bridge and its damage

Crimean Bridge and its damage

On October 8, an explosion occurred on the Crimean Bridge, which partially destroyed the road infrastructure and caused a fire on the railway section. The bridge, a key logistics artery for supplying Russian troops in the south, has become a symbol of the stability of Russia's control over the region - and its damage was a blow to its image. This worsened the logistics of Russian military operations in southern Ukraine and led to an intensification of subsequent Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. October became a month of escalation—after the incident, attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure became systematic.
Explosion in Crimea and attacks on military targets

Explosion in Crimea and attacks on military targets

August became one of the busiest months at the front. In Crimea, at the Saki airbase, a powerful explosion occurred that destroyed several aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces. Although the official narrative had long been one of “lack of safety precautions,” most international analysts noted that this was one of the first major strikes against targets deep behind Russian lines. The event had a strong psychological effect inside Russia - many began to understand that the conflict was dragging on, and for the first time the war was “reaching” territories perceived as safe.
BRICS summit and Russia's international reorientation

BRICS summit and Russia's international reorientation

In June, Russia actively switched to the countries of the Global South and East - China, India, Turkey, Iran. At the BRICS summit, the expansion of the bloc to include new states was actively discussed. Russia tried to create new economic routes, alternative SWIFT payments, and new trade logistics. One of the key events was the sharp increase in oil supplies to India and China. These markets compensated for the losses in Europe, but at a price significantly lower than the market price. Experts noted that Russia had actually moved to a model of “raw material dependence on the East.” Politically, June became a symbol of a new foreign policy course: from cooperation with Europe to an alliance with Asian and Middle Eastern components. This became the basis of the diplomatic strategy of subsequent years.
Collecting signatures against impunity of law enforcement agencies

Collecting signatures against impunity of law enforcement agencies

“The Armenia Alliance initiated a large-scale collection of signatures in order to bring information about recent events in Armenia to the international arena.

The party, in particular, is concerned about the massive and unfounded detentions of its members, as well as representatives of other opposition forces, facts of political persecution and outright pressure.

On behalf of the alliance, party council member Hakob Nikoghosyan, together with like-minded people, has been collecting signatures for several days in his shopping salon in Yerevan, which is held under the slogan “Against the violence of law enforcement agencies.”

The author of the initiative called on his clients, as well as other citizens, to join the collection of signatures and make the voice of society heard.

“If we don’t prevent all this now, it will no longer be possible later. The insolent behavior of the authorities and the illegal actions of law enforcement and security agencies have created an atmosphere of permissiveness and impunity in the country, which works against all of us,” notes Hakob Nikoghosyan.

By collecting signatures, they intend to join the initiative of the Chairman of the National Assembly Commission for the Protection of Human Rights, Taguya Tovmasyan, within the framework of which the deputy intends to raise the issue of mass violence in the Council of Europe.

“Collecting signatures is our voice in the name of justice and our security,” Nikoghosyan emphasizes.

The collection of signatures will last about one month, after which they will be transferred to NA deputy Taguhi Tovmasyan, so that the chairman of the parliamentary commission will send all the collected signatures to the Council of Europe.

“No one can stop people who fight for their rights,” concludes Hakob Nikoghosyan.