Two teenagers say Russian police detained and beat them on the day of a planned protest against internet blocking

In Yekaterinburg, on the day of a planned protest against internet blocking, police tried to detain a 17-year-old college student and his 18-year-old acquaintance. Both told the independent Russian news outlet Mediazona that officers beat them — one during the detention, the other later at the police station.

The 17-year-old told Mediazona he had been walking in the city center with a male friend and a female friend and had no idea a protest was planned. On 1905 Square, where the protest had been announced, he noticed security forces and photographed them. Officers soon approached the group, demanded their passports, and then asked them to unlock their phones and show the photo gallery. The teenager said he had forgotten his password. Officers struck him on the leg, stomach, and face, delivering what he described as a very powerful slap. When he tried to break free, they tore his T-shirt and bag, Mediazona reported.

His 18-year-old friend fled but later went to the police station on his own. He told Mediazona that officers beat him there as well. “One punch to the chest, a couple of hits on the back, they grabbed me by the neck and dragged me around the room — maybe they hit me somewhere else too, but I don’t remember,” he said.

Both were charged with disobeying police officers. The 17-year-old was sent to a temporary detention center for minors for 48 hours. His friend was fined 2,000 rubles.