The head of Bashkortostan banned activists from Navalny’s headquarters from attending public hearings and boasted of “extensive experience in suppressing unnecessary things”

The head of Bashkiria, Radiy Khabirov, at a meeting with editors of republican media, said that activists from Alexei Navalny’s Ufa headquarters should not be allowed to attend public hearings, and boasted that he has “extensive experience in suppressing unnecessary things.” His words are reported by Echo of Moscow in Ufa.

A high-ranking official noted that “[the opposition] and I are not on the same path,” because, in his opinion, they are trying to overthrow the government. “Khabirov said that if he had organized the hearings in the Kurultai, Navalny’s activists would have entered the building,” reports Ekho Moskvy in Ufa.

According to Khabirov, as reported by the radio station, Navalny’s supporters “caught a big hype” due to the “stupidity of officials.” He added that “personnel decisions” had already been made, but did not specify which ones.

Navalny’s headquarters in Ufa asked the prosecutor’s office and the Investigative Committee to check Khabirov’s statements and punish him.