Protests in support of Ukraine broke out across the world following Russian missile strikes in cities around the country.
Supporters across Europe and the U.S. were among those who came to show solidarity with Ukraine as it counted at least 19 deaths caused by Russian strikes.
However, at one rally in Washington D.C., police restrained a woman who spat twice at officers, with a video of the “Ruzzian Karen”, as she was quickly dubbed by social media users, going viral.
Viktoriia Savchuk
The Claim
“A post on Reddit, published on October 11, 2022, claims that a “Ruzzian Karen” “was unhappy that Ukrainians are protesting against ruzzian missile strikes on civilians. Spits on cop gets arrested.”
A video of the incident shared on Twitter received more than 27,000 engagements in one day.
The term “Karen” became popular around 2020; according to Know Your Meme, it can be used to describe someone “characterized as an irritating, entitled woman, sometimes as an ex-wife who took custody of ‘the kids.'”
Critics of the term argue it is implicitly sexist, but it has nonetheless become shorthand for individuals in videos like the one shot outside the Russian embassy.
Nonetheless, is it fair to characterize the woman as a “Russian Karen,” and report her arrest, with what little information can be gleaned from the clip?
The Facts
It is true that a pro-Ukrainian rally had gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Washington D.C. at 6 p.m. on October 11, 2022.
A flyer for the event posted online said it was “in response to the mass terror unleashed on innocent civilians” alongside the names of the cities struck by Russian missiles.
The video, shot by Viktoriia Savchuk, was shared on Twitter with the message: “Russian supporters in action 🤢🤮 At the russian embassy in Washington, DC during the rally in support of #Ukraine today. #RussiaIsATerroristState“
Newsweek verified the location was outside the Embassy gates, around Boris Nemtsov plaza.
During the course of the protest, Secret Service officers approached a woman who was speaking to others outside the venue.
An eyewitness to the incident told Newsweek that the woman made pro-Russian statements, although this has not yet been verified elsewhere.
It’s also not clear from the video what the full conversation between the woman and officers was about.
At one point the woman can be heard saying what sounds like “this is their territory” while pointing toward the embassy. After ending the conversation, the woman walked away, spat at an officer, was restrained, spat again, and then was tackled to the floor.
The U.S. Secret Service confirmed to Newsweek that “USSS Uniform Division arrested one person for Assaulting a Police Officer and Resisting Arrest,” though it did not state whether it was the woman in the video. No other details were provided.
While the claims about a “Russian Karen” likely originated from accounts of those who said they were at the event, it is as of yet unclear which citizenship the woman holds, (though she does appear to express pro-Russian views).
Reddit users also suggested that at some point she can be heard shouting “Death to America,” though having heard the audio several times, Newsweek fact checkers could not corroborate it.
There is still no name, age, place of origin or other information made public about the person in the incident, and while the testimony of eyewitnesses is useful, a lack of other supporting evidence at this point makes it difficult to establish definitively if the woman is pro-Russian, anti-Ukrainian, anti-American, a combination of the above or something else entirely.
Finally, while the fact of the arrest appears to have been indirectly supported by the agency’s response, it is not yet known whether any charges will be pressed and if she has been jailed in the meantime.
While some called for her deportation, there is no evidence so far that she would (or even could) be deported.
So, while it seems plausible that there was a conversation about Russia, followed by the woman’s detainment (with eyewitness testimony), there isn’t enough information to verify the accuracy of the various claims on social media.
The Ruling
Needs Context.
A woman was restrained at the Russian Embassy in Washington D.C. as a pro-Ukrainian protest was taking place on October 11, 2022.
The Secret Service also confirmed that a woman was arrested, although there are no details about her identity or further charges.
While at least one eyewitness says the woman made pro-Russian comments, supporting a narrative shared widely on Twitter, not all the facts (such as the police account of the event or the identity of the woman) are there to completely verify that account.
FACT CHECK BY Newsweek’s Fact Check team
