Environmental activist from Bashkortostan continues to be threatened with criminal prosecution

Eco-activist from Bashkortostan Sergei Strannik continues to be threatened with a criminal case. He connects this with the organization of ecolanding to protect the natural monument of Shikhan Kushtau. The Stranger himself reported this to the OVD-Info hotline.

According to the activist, on February 11, a girl from the district police department in Ufa called him, she did not introduce herself and did not specify which department she represented. The caller said that on February 12, on a “mandatory basis”, the Stranger must arrive by 12:00 at the Kirovsky District Court of Ufa for a court session, where the protocol against the environmental defender under Art. 5.35 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (non-fulfillment of duties by parents to raise minors). In case of non-appearance, the police officer said, a criminal case would be initiated against the Stranger.

The eco-activist is currently in a neighboring region, and therefore will not be able to personally attend the meeting.

According to Strannik, there is no real evidence of alleged failure to fulfill his obligations to raise his son: the activist regularly paid alimony, which is confirmed by certificates from the bank and statements by his ex-wife.

For the third time in a row, they are trying to bring Stranger to such liability: in 2018, he was found guilty of non-payment of alimony and assigned 100 hours of compulsory work, and on January 23, 2020, the court already appointed 150 hours of compulsory work under the same article.

• On January 22, 2020, Sergey Strannik announced the creation of an eco-landing party to protect Shikhan Kushtau from being transferred for industrial development. Some local activists reacted negatively to this proposal.
• One of the shikhans - hills - next to Sterlitamak is planned to be given to the Bashkir Soda Company for the development of soda. Activists stand for the preservation of natural monuments, the remaining shikhans of Toratau, Kushtau, Yuraktau. The previously existing shikhan Shakhtau was completely destroyed to obtain raw materials by the Bashkir Soda Company.