Сюжет

Protests against internet blockings: detentions and other forms of pressure

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Viktor Gilin’s solo protest in Perm / Photo from the Telegram channel of the Perm branch of the “Rassvet” party

After news broke about the blocking of the Telegram messenger and regular internet outages in Moscow and other regions, videos began appearing on TikTok calling on people to protest against internet blocks. The demonstration scheduled for 29 March in Moscow is being promoted by the “Scarlet Swan” movement, while Dmitry Kisiev, a politician from Boris Nadezhdin’s team, has announced actions across Russia. In this chronicle, we are compiling instances of pressure on organisers and participants of possible protests.

You can find our contact details and instructions for detainees on this page.
The list of detainees from 29 March is available here.

27.03.2026

14:48

Moscow

Moscow students Maksim Kheifets and Nikita Ulanov, who were sentenced to 15 days' arrest under the charge of disobeying the police, have turned out to be participants in the “Alyi Lebed” (Scarlet Swan) movement. This was reported by Verstka, citing other members of the movement.

Kheifets was listed as one of the organisers in the notification to hold a rally on Sakharov Avenue. He is 18 years old. Ulanov is a volunteer with “Alyi Lebed.”

The court decisions in the cases against Ulanov and Kheifets state that both were arrested for “refusing to show documents” to police officers. “Acted aggressively, waved his hands,” the document says about Kheifets. Participation in the “unsanctioned event against internet blockades on Bolotnaya Square” is not mentioned in the court decisions, although this was initially reported by the court press service.

Two other “Alyi Lebed” participants—Stepan Razin, who submitted the notification for the rally on Bolotnaya Square, and the former organiser of the movement Timofei—managed to leave Russia. The latter had noticed surveillance: the same car had been driving past his home for several days.

In mid-March, more than 1,500 TikTok videos appeared calling on people to protest against internet blockades. The action, scheduled for 29 March, was promoted by the “Alyi Lebed” movement. Nothing was previously known about it.

26.03.2026

15:20

Moscow

In Moscow, students Maksim Kheifets and Nikita Ulanov have been sentenced to 15 days' detention for taking part in an 'unauthorised event against internet censorship on Bolotnaya Square'. This was reported by the press service of the city courts of general jurisdiction.

It was not specified which demonstration this referred to. Both young people were charged under the article on disobeying the police (Part 1, Article 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

24.03.2026

18:35

Russia

In mid-March, more than 1,500 TikTok videos appeared calling for protests against internet censorship. The action, scheduled for 29 March, is being promoted by the “Scarlet Swan” movement—reportedly organised by young people aged 14 to 20 (there are suspicions they may be linked to pro-government groups). Coordinators submitted an application for a rally in Moscow, and in parallel the politician Dmitry Kisiev announced actions across Russia. His team submitted notifications in 28 cities across 17 regions in total.

Authorities in Russian cities are refusing to allow these rallies, canceling already approved actions, and also putting pressure on their organisers and participants.

Police visited Sofia Chepik (19), administrator of the Moscow “Scarlet Swan” chat: they took her from her home, held a “preventive conversation,” and released her with a “warning about the inadmissibility of breaking the law.”
Main organiser Stepan Razin went to the prosecutor’s office himself to pre-empt action by the security forces (however, a police unit also turned up at his home during this time).
In Rostov-on-Don, a major city in southern Russia, rally applicant Yevgeny Makovoz was arrested for 10 days. Before this, there was a search at his home during which he was beaten. According to his relatives, the activist suffered a concussion.

Why are protests against internet censorship not allowed in Russian cities? The authorities’ explanations

Moscow and Moscow region. Mass events are banned due to COVID restrictions.
Barnaul and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The rally’s aim “violates the principle of legality” because Roskomnadzor is blocking the internet “within the powers granted by law.”
Kazan. The wording of the aim “allows for arbitrary and ambiguous interpretation.”
Volgograd. There is a threat of drone attacks.
Voronezh. There is a threat of terrorist attacks.
Tomsk. All 15 proposed venues for the action are already booked.
Vladivostok. The action can only be held at one venue, but it needs repairs.

In some cities, rallies can still be agreed, but with caveats:

In Vladimir, the rally was approved—but only for one hour in the morning. Initially, organisers wanted to protest at ten venues, but the authorities decided to clean them and hold a “patriotic event” there. In Yakutsk, a major city in Siberia, a venue on the outskirts was approved. Authorities also demanded that the rally be moved to Monday and last only one hour. The organiser called this “mockery” and declined.