Photos from protests sweeping hundreds of Russian cities on June 12
Russian anti-corruption activists staged demonstrations in more than 200 cities on June 12, when the country celebrates Russia Day. The media has focused mostly on rallies in Moscow and St. Petersburg, where police have detained hundreds of demonstrators, but thousands of Russians also attended these protests across the country. Meduza collected photographs from dozens of these protests.
Ulan-Ude
“#WeDemandAnswers in Ulan-Ude! #June12”
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Kazan
“The protest in Kazan. By the way, this started at 7 a.m. #WeDemandAnswers”
Omsk
“In Omsk at a protest with at least 2,000 people. #WeDemandAnswers”
Tomsk
“It was cold and wet, but we demanded answers. #WeDemandAnswers #June12 #Tomsk”
Vladivostok
“The police demand that we disperse, but we're staying put. #June12 #WeDemandAnswers
“Anti-corruption protest in Vladivostok. #June12 #WeDemandAnswers”
Barnaul
“There's not enough room for people on the square! They're standing on the side paths. Barnaul! #RussiaDay #WeDemandAnswers”
Norilsk
“#Norilsk #Protest #June12 #WeDemandAnswers”
Novosibirsk
“#WeDemandAnswers #DimonWillAnswer #Protest #June12 #RussiaDay #Novosibirsk”
“#WeDemandAnswers #DimonWillAnswer #Protest #June12 #RussiaDay #Novosibirsk”
Krasnoyarsk
“Had a good time. #Krasnoyarsk #DimonWillAnswer #WeDemandAnswers”
Krasnodar
“Visitors at the protest in Krasnodar. Some photos for you. #June12 #WeDemandAnswers”
Novokuznetsk
“#WeDemandAnswers Novokuznetsk”
Rostov-on-Don
“AAAAA There are so many of us! Rostov-on-Don. #DimonWillAnswer #WeDemandAnswers’
Tyumen
“This protest has drawn more people than on March 26! More and more people are refusing to be indifferent to their own future. #June12 #Tyumen #WeDemandAnswers”
Komsomolsk-on-Amur
“#June12 #WeDemandAnswers #KomsomolskonAmur”
Abakan
“#WeDemandAnswers #June12 #Abakan”
Yekaterinburg
“The square, five minutes before the start [of the protest]. The rain has ended, and the sun is starting to shine over the stage. #Yekaterinburg #WeDemandAnswers”
“#Yekaterinburg #WeDemandAnswers”
Belgorod
“Some creative work at #WeDemandAnswers in Belgorod”
Orenburg
“Orenburg #WeDemandAnswers”
Yakutsk
Chelyabinsk
Iskitim
Ulyanovsk
Kurgan
“#June12 #Kurgan #WeDemandAnswers”
Vologda
Magnitogorsk
“This great banner is what greets participants at the protest in Magnitogorsk. #WeDemandAnswers #DimonWillAnswer [sign reads, “There's no money, but you hang in there” — a famous gaffe by Medvedev]
Oryol
“Great job, everyone who came to the protest today in Oryol. #DimonWillAnswer #NoDimonOryol #Oryol”
Yaroslavl
Irkutsk
Meanwhile, in Moscow and St. Petersburg
Photo on front page: Robert Kovalev / Instagram