Russian police moved quickly Saturday to disperse peaceful protests against President Vladimir Putin's military mobilization order, arresting hundreds, including some children, in scores of cities across the vast country.
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Police detained nearly 750 people, including over 370 in Moscow and some 150 in St. Petersburg, according to OVD-Info, an independent website that monitors political arrests in Russia.
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The demonstrations followed protests that erupted within hours Wednesday after Putin, in a move to beef up his volunteer forces fighting in Ukraine, announced a call-up of experienced and skilled army reservists.
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The Defense Ministry said about 300,000 people would be summoned to active duty, but the order left a door open to many more getting called into service.
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On Saturday, police deployed in force in the cities where protests were scheduled by opposition group Vesna and supporters of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
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They moved quickly to arrest demonstrators, most of them young people, before they could hold protests.
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In Moscow, a heavy contingent of police roamed a downtown area where a protest was planned under pouring rain and checked the IDs of passersby.
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Officers rounded up those they deemed suspicious and later distributed call-up summons to the men who were arrested.
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Police detained a man in a park just outside Red Square and whisked him away as others shouted “Shame!”