The activists of the Strategy 18 Russian initiative group held a series of single-person pickets in the Arbat Street in the center of Moscow, demanding to return Crimea to Ukraine, release captured Ukrainian sailors and political prisoners.

The Crimea.Realities reports this with reference to the initiative participant, Russian activist Vera Lavreshyna.

“We keep our hopes up to establish a dialogue with residents of the capital [Moscow] about the inevitable return of Crimea. They finally stopped to set upon us with blows as we told them that Crimea would have to be returned to Ukraine, according to the law, and, most importantly, to the Crimean Tatars. Crimean Tatar autonomy must be created to preserve these distinctive and courageous people. We continue the flash mob in support for seriously ill Edem Bekirov, Pavlo Hryb, for the release of Ukrainian sailors and prisoners on the "Sentsov list" until we reach our goal. Glory to Ukraine! We believe in victory,” Lavreshyna said.

As reported, Russian activists from St. Petersburg and Moscow united in a perpetual rally called "Strategy 18" in memory of the deportation of Crimean Tatars on May 18, 1944. Every 18th day of each month, the activists hold rallies to tell about the situation in the annexed Crimea, to inform society about the facts of violation of human rights and freedoms.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Russia illegally holds more than 70 Ukrainians now. This number does not include 24 Ukrainian sailors who were captured by Russia off the coast of the annexed Crimea in November last year.

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