Moscow's alternative teens gather in Kitay-Gorod as police target them
Teenagers from various subcultures, known as "nefors," gather on weekends in Kitay-Gorod, a central Moscow district. Bar owners cite fights and lost customers, while police detain the teens mainly based on their appearance.
Kitay-Gorod, a district in the center of the Russian capital Moscow, has become the main hangout for young people known as "nefors." They are mostly minors in unusual clothes and bright makeup, belonging to a range of youth subcultures. Bereg, a cooperative of independent journalists, spent two nights in the district, and the outlet Meduza is translating its report in full.
How the hangout emerged
Media first reported on the "nefors" of Kitay-Gorod in the summer of 2025. According to the source, since the spring of 2025 nowhere else in the city has attracted as many of them. The teenagers gather in courtyards, small public gardens and side lanes, often finding spots through Instagram and TikTok.
Business owners' complaints
Albert (not his real name), who owns a business in the district, says the teenagers initially behaved calmly, but some later began drinking, shouting, fighting and using pepper spray. He says customers were afraid to come on Fridays and Saturdays, and his business's revenue in summer 2025 was 40% lower than the year before. He also says he has repeatedly seen teenagers overdose and ambulances called. According to him, police responded weakly to business owners' calls.
Police response
After March 20, 2026, when unidentified people attacked students leaving the Moscow Choral Synagogue, police, the National Guard and OMON riot police began patrolling the district more often. It is not known whether any "nefors" were among the attackers. On July 3, dozens of people, including teenagers, were detained and beaten. Police focus mainly on the teenagers' appearance, and the raids have pushed them out of parks into lanes and courtyards. Some bars now use guards to keep teenagers out.
