Russian police arrest man holding up blank sheet of paper

Police arrested a man for holding up a blank piece of white paper on Sunday in Novosibirsk, Russia.

The police officers asked the protester to produce his documents, and after checking them said that “all public activities on the territory of Novosibirsk region, including single-person pickets, in other words what, as I understand you are doing right now, are prohibited.”

As the protester kept holding up the piece of white paper two police officers dragged him away.

Police detained more than 4,300 people on Sunday at Russia-wide protests against President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, according to an independent protest monitoring group.

#GlobalNews

[PoohbalooTv]

I actually find this one of the most powerful ways to protest. It shows just how paranoid the government has become

[Nerdvanna]

This is a genius way of protesting. It clearly shows the insecurity of the Russian government.

[claytonstokes]

“Illegal activity…” holding a blank sheet of paper is illegal in Russia. God help them.

[mermaidmimsy]

Never has a blank piece of paper spoken so many words.

[MrBEA]

He is actually referring to an old soviet era joke of a man standing on the red square handing out blank papers without any text or anything written on them. When asked by the police what he is protesting against his answer is simply “Is that not obvious?”.
Since this old joke is so well known, it is quite clear to everyone seen here what this brave man is referring to.

[snooker]

I'm surprised the incident was allowed to be filmed. My thoughts are with this brave man.

[VortexVisionary]

Dude sacrificed himself to make a point and show the world the dictatorship of Russia

[shallot]

They literally just made themselves look so stupid by arresting him, orders or not.

[justsomeone]

“When you cut out a man’s tongue, you’re not proving him wrong.

You’re simply telling the world you fear what he may say.”

Edit: -Me?

I don't remember where or who this quote is from.

Or if I paraphrased a quote in my head ages ago. That's just a quote I remember.

Closest quote I could find? George R.R Martin's quote. Which is "When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say."

[travelmentaryTV]

I wonder how those police officers can look in the mirror every morning and what they’re telling their families when they come home: “Today I arrested somebody for holding a blank piece of paper.”

[pedagogyofliberation]

The medium is the message. They are afraid of anyone who thinks for themselves, even holding a blank sheet of paper, because it can become the trigger for change. Stay strong!

[paddykrueger]

That must be what J.D. Vance means when he talks about “free speech”.

[jasonmeador]

That blank sheet of paper says it all!!

[junhernandez]

A man who stands up for his convictions without fear is a true man. Your kind sir is rare. We will not be surprised if you will turn out to be a future leader.

[rickhughesprints]

When I lived in Russia, I had some books mailed to me from the States. They were just books, no politics, no secret anything. Local Russian customs police said I had to pay a huge price to get my books from them after they "reviewed" the books to make sure they were OK. I was not about to pay what I still think was just money to go into their pockets. I told them to just keep the books, I would not pay. So they told me to sign a form that I was a criminal for not paying to pick up the books. I said no, I would not sign that I am a criminal. But I still had to sign another form saying that I refused to sign the form stating that I was a criminal. Crazy stuff.

[alejandro-garcia-]

I was stopped by a soldier without a reason in the same region of Novosibirsk. I'm not russian citizen and I was just recording a video on street to show the snow, nothing special. The soldier took my phone and start to check everything (that's completely illegal of course, but I didn't want problems as I wasn't citizen). As I just had videos on streets and some pictures of nature, he gave me back my phone (I'll upload the video in my channel soon). I think they are paranoid. This video seems like:
- Hey, stop what you're doing
- But I'm not moving, I'm not talking, I'm not doing anything, I'm not saying nothing using text or pictures, nothing
- Stop it or we'll arrest you
- I'm just breathing, I must stop to breath? What am I doing?
- You're thinking

[mazlanmdzain]

That guy was scared but he held his ground.. That is one of the bravest acts that I've seen..

[DreamlinerX]

There was a Soviet joke:
A man walks on the street with blank flyers, and he is arrested.
He asks the police why he was arrested, all the flyers come with nothing on it!
The policeman says: "Everybody knows what should be on these flyers."

[Nobody-xefc]

"We are police. Please show me your papers."
"Here it is, sir."
😂

[IIAOPSW]

"show me your papers" say the officer to the man literally showing him a piece of paper.