St. Petersburg prosecutor demands Vesna to be declared extremist

St. Petersburg prosecutor’s office has demanded that Vesna, a youth liberal movement, be declared extremist and banned in Russia, the agency’s website says.

“We have determined that its activities are aimed at undermining social security and Russia’s constitutional order. The organisation is destabilising the social and political situation in Russia, fostering the public opinion towards the change of political power,” the statement reads.

Vesna is a liberal democratic youth movement. It announced nationwide protests against mobilisation earlier. Its activists believe that they are being persecuted for their anti-war stance. The organisation’s website was blocked, and many activists had their homes searched ahead of their 9 May anti-war rally.