The police have detained all 193 participants of the first Municipal Russia Forum in Moscow last weekend.

“The ENTIRE forum of municipal deputies of Russia was detained! (…) The dictatorship is throwing away their last fig leaves.” MBK

https://t.co/WL6dHTCJhD pic.twitter.com/uijJgwUAbH

— Алла (@alla_nov) March 13, 2021

The Forum was organized by United Democrats, a project that supports competitive elections in Russia at the municipal level. The organizers aimed to create a platform where incumbent municipal deputies from over 50 Russian regions could exchange experiences in order to improve lives of citizens.

Despite the ongoing crackdown on anti-Kremlin sentiment ahead of the upcoming Duma elections this fall, the organizers plan to continue their work with independent municipal deputies.

“Attempts to intimidate those people that I saw at the Forum today won’t work. Thanks to everyone who came today. Everything will be fine!” Andrey Pivovarov

Among those detained were Otkrytka’s director Andrey Pivovarov, activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, municipal deputies Ilya Yashin and Yulia Galyamina, Otkrytka’s coordinator Tatyana and former mayor of Yekaterinburg Yevgeny Roizman. The police also detained representatives of the media.

According to United Democrats coordinator Anastasia Burakova all protocols for those detained were all drawn up in advance. Provocateurs from state-controlled media were also planted in the police vans transporting those detained to the stations.

Police claimed the Forum had links to an “undesirable organization”, even though the United Democrats are not listed as an undesirable organization. Later they said those detained were not following coronavirus-related health measures.

Western politicians including US Secretary of State, reacted to the events on Sunday:

Today, the Russian government detained almost 200 municipal leaders and politicians, including political activists Vladimir Kara-Murza and Yuliya Galyamina, on dubious grounds. We call for an end to the persecution of independent voices.

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) March 14, 2021

Very concerned about the detention of more than 100 opposition activists in Moscow during the @openrussia_team municipal delegates' forum. The rights of opposition to continue political activity is a fundamental right and must be respected. The detainees must be freed immediately pic.twitter.com/gPSOiT6ebn

— Lithuania MFA (@LithuaniaMFA) March 13, 2021

Осуждаю задержание участников форума муниципальных депутатов в Москве, среди них @vkaramurza @roizmangbn и др. Российские власти опять нарушают основные политические права своих граждан. Призываю незамедлительно отпустить всех задержанных активистов.

— Edgars Rinkēvičs (@edgarsrinkevics) March 13, 2021

The Kremlin continues to cower in fear of the Russian people.  Arresting 100+ opposition activists is a disgraceful sign of weakness, not strength. The Russian people deserve to have their voices heard. https://t.co/JBmyyeVErd

— Senator Bob Menendez (@SenatorMenendez) March 13, 2021

Right now: a meeting of independent parliamentarians stormed by police in Moscow. The participants (many parliamentarians and journalists) have been arrested, solidarity with colleagues-MPs+others @IlyaYashin @galiamina @olevskiy @vkaramurza The government in 🇷🇺 must very scared.

— Sergey Lagodinsky (@SLagodinsky) March 13, 2021

Police breaks up and arrests everyone – here @vkaramurza – at an open opposition gathering in Moscow earlier today. The nervousness of the regime is obviously on the increase. pic.twitter.com/ktsCGSBIgR

— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) March 13, 2021

Putin's regime arrests municipal officials and opposition figures at a conference. Tyranny at home makes aggression abroad more likely. But Russia can be better than this. @vkaramurza @v_milov @anders_aslund @RugeBoris https://t.co/pVlD9x2axh

— Daniel Fried (@AmbDanFried) March 15, 2021