The messages threatened to attack the women, claiming their activities violated "traditional values." Their troubles began before the camp even started, with messages sent to their social media accounts by supposed Cossacks-an ethnic group that maintains their own militias. They had planned to spend a week at a camp discussing feminism in an environment "free of "sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and any sort of xenophobia." The women reportedly refused to follow the order but were later released.Īt the police station, the five women-Lolita Agamalova, Lada Garina, Elena Ivanova, Taisia Simonova, and Oksana Vasyakina-were also searched, ordered to turn off their phones and file statements regarding the purpose of the trip. On Monday, a group of women on a feminist retreat in Russia's southern Black Sea region of Krasnodar were hauled to a police station, questioned about an alleged breach of public order and told to sign documents warning them against carrying out any "extremist activity," Human Rights Watch reported. Related: Jehovah's witnesses ban appeal rejected by Russia's Supreme Court, Allowing government to seize worship halls Now a new group could soon be added to that list: feminists.
In recent months, journalists, Jehovah's Witnesses and a librarian have all fallen foul of Russia's controversial and increasingly utilized anti-extremism law.