In St. Petersburg, authorities detained Lev Sokolov after he staged a lone protest with a poster featuring Leopold the Cat and the message Lets live together. The incident was reported by Kommersant and has drawn attention to how individuals are treated when expressive acts challenge official narratives about domestic life and national events.
Initial reports indicate that the man was transported to a police wagon, where officers questioned him about his employment, his military service, and his views on a so-called special military operation in Ukraine. The events unfolded in the city center, and it was noted that he was brought to Police Department No. 78, located in the Central District of St. Petersburg. The episode highlights how even small, peaceful demonstrations can trigger police scrutiny under current laws and enforcement practices that govern public expression.
In Perm, another case involved a 77-year-old retiree who arrived at the regional administration building carrying a banner calling for an end to the operation described by authorities as special. The incident occurred in the early afternoon, and after the brief act of protest, Viktor Gilin was detained by law enforcement agencies. This incident adds to a growing pattern of age-diverse residents engaging in street-level political expression and facing immediate police responses, a trend documented by multiple local and national outlets.
As described by the activist involved, she was brought to a police station and a protocol was drawn up accusing the elderly Russian of discrediting the Russian Armed Forces. The individual refused to sign the document, insisting that no law had been violated. The episode underscores ongoing tensions around how dissent is recorded, reported, and contested in civil society, especially when older residents participate in demonstrations or display messaging that authorities interpret as critical of official policy.
The broader context for these events includes ongoing debates about peaceful assembly, state messaging, and the limits of public protest in contemporary Russia. Observers note that a poster showing a well-known cartoon character paired with a civic ideal can become a flashpoint in environments where protest is tightly regulated and where residents weigh the personal cost of stepping into the public square. Reports from Kommersant and other outlets suggest that authorities maintain a cautious approach to street expression and emphasize adherence to a legal framework that governs public demonstrations, even when the acts are peaceful and symbolic. In this climate, ordinary citizens may encounter administrative procedures, police stops, and formal inquiries that can affect their sense of security and civic participation. The unfolding cases illustrate how the line between everyday political sentiment and official restrictions is navigated by law enforcement, courts, and civil society groups in major urban centers such as St. Petersburg and Perm. Sources note that the consequences for participants can vary, ranging from brief detentions to more formal administrative actions, and they reflect a broader conversation about freedom of expression within the country’s current governance structure.