Russia's hair dye arrests highlight crackdown on war critics
The police in Moscow stated that dyeing your hair blue, yellow, and green is seen as a form of discrediting the Russian army. This accusation was levelled against a man who visited the police station to report an assault and robbery.
30 April 2024 18:03
According to the independent Russian news portal OWD-Info, Stanislav Nietiosov, the affected individual, reported on Sunday that he was assaulted and robbed by unidentified attackers who took his mobile phone and knocked out one of his teeth.
The officers who processed Nietiosov's complaint deduced that his hair, dyed blue, yellow, and green, symbolizes Ukraine and thus discredits the Russian military. Consequently, they filed a report against him, took his fingerprints, and informed him that he would have to "kiss the native soil in the trenches," furthermore, they handed him a draft notice.
Oppression of those opposing the war
From the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian government has employed various methods of suppression against critics of its policies.
An instance of this is a 67-year-old doctor from Moscow, arrested for telling a war widow and her child that the deceased was a "legitimate target." She now faces a potential prison sentence of up to five years.
At present, thousands are incarcerated in Russian jails, including journalists, human rights activists, political rivals, and ordinary citizens who are actively sharing their views on social media. A significant number critique the offensive against Ukraine or the conduct of Russian troops.
