“There were no people who wanted to rejoice at the occupation of part of Ukraine for free and without coercion,” activist George Alburov tweeted.
Unedited footage from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annexation speech in Moscow on Friday appears to show fake cheers were edited onto clips broadcast on state TV, while reports say that people were bussed in to attend the rally.
Putin held a rally on Friday and said that Russia would take control of four Ukrainian regions—Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia—following sham referendums in the partly occupied regions that have been decried by international communities as illegal.
The Russian leader spoke to crowds at a concert that sought to celebrate the claimed annexation of the territories. “Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Russia! Together for ever!” read a banner hung by the Kremlin on Manezh Square.
Local Telegram and Twitter channels have shared unedited clips that were taken at the event itself, alongside videos that appear to have cheers and chants added by state media.
On-the-ground clips show a lifeless crowd, with many standing still while holding Russian flags as they watch a speech by Ivan Okhlobystin, an actor and director, as well as a staunch Putin fan.
