A court in Bashkortostan sentenced Kushtau defender Fail Alsynov* to 4 years in a general regime colony

Protesters in support of the activist were detained at the courthouse, the police used tear gas, a criminal case was opened for mass riots, and six people were arrested

The verdict of the Baymak court turned out to be harsher than what the prosecution demanded; instead of 4 years in a penal colony, the activist was given 4 years in a general regime colony on charges of inciting hatred or enmity. The maximum term under the charged article is five years. “Everything that happens in the Baymak court has nothing in common with law or jurisprudence,” his lawyer Ilnur Suyundukov said after the verdict against Fail Alsynov.

A criminal case was opened at the request of the head of Bashkortostan, Radiy Khabirov, in August 2023; the reason was Alsynov’s speech at a national gathering in April of the same year. The verdict was supposed to be announced on January 15; on this day, residents of the republic gathered in front of the court building; according to the Kushtau Bayram channel, there were about five thousand people. As a result, the announcement was postponed for two days.

On January 16, the police came to several activists, the Kushtau Bayram channel became unavailable on Telegram, Bashkir oppositionist Ruslan Gabbasov reported that three more channels that coordinated actions in support of Alsynov were blocked. Residents of Bashkortostan complained about problems with access to WhatsApp. On the same day, Rosfinmonitoring included Fail Alsynov in the “list of individuals for whom there is information about their involvement in extremist activities or terrorism.”

On January 17, according to local residents, about 10,000 people gathered for the announcement of the verdict in Baymak. As the Idel.Realii channel reported, the Russian National Guard was brought to the court, arrests began, and security forces used tear gas and stun grenades. People began throwing snow and pieces of ice at the riot police. A correspondent for the channel “NeMoskva Says” reported that more than 20 people sought medical help; according to RusNews , one of the protesters was broken in the head by security forces.

As SOTA ** reported, security forces began negotiations with the protesters; they are offered to move away from the courthouse in exchange for the release of the detainees.

The head of Bashkortostan, Radiy Khabirov, did not comment on Alsynov’s sentence or the protests.

As RIA Novosti reported, the police opened criminal cases of riots against the protesters. The Investigative Committee stated that police officers were injured, which is why an article about “the use of violence against government officials” appeared in the case. Meanwhile, the publication “Proof” reported that 40 protest participants have already gone to the hospital, eight of them have serious injuries.

“Verstka” reported that six participants in the spontaneous rally were arrested, the court sentenced five of them to 10 days of arrest under the article on violating the procedure for organizing and holding rallies, and one - 13 days of arrest.

*Fail Alsynov is included in the list of “extremists” and “terrorists”

**Recognized as “foreign agents” in Russia.

Photo "Idel.Realities"