A criminal case was opened against a blogger who called on protesters in Baymak to disperse for participation in mass riots.

A criminal case was opened against the Bashkir blogger Ilyas Bayguskarov, who called on the protesters in Baymak to disperse, for participation in mass riots (Part 2 of Article 212 of the Criminal Code). His brother Ilgiz told Kholod about this.

Ilyas Bayguskarov was detained on January 17 during protests near the Baymaksky District Court, but was then released, according to his brother. On the afternoon of January 19, in Ufa, he was detained again on a criminal case of participation in mass riots, Baiguskarov’s lawyer Radmir Saniev told Kholod.

“So far I have not been acquainted with anything (with the materials of the case - note by Kholod). The investigation [has] three days to consider my petition. The investigative body did not appeal to the court. If they apply, tomorrow is their last day to do so. As far as I know, he was detained at 14.30 on January 19, 2024 as part of a criminal case. Accordingly, if this is so, then at 14.30 on January 21, 2024, the period of detention expires,” says Saniev.

Ilgiz Bayguskarov told Kholod that during the protests, his brother Ilyas tried to calm the crowd.

“I wonder: how could the article about the riots be applied if it was not even a protest, but simply support for a public figure? There were a lot of provocateurs in Baymak. […] There are many videos where people [are seen] being reassured by those who were most visible in public activities. There is indisputable evidence and video that my brother sought to calm the assembled people. It seems to me that the authorities made a mistake by detaining active support members and activists,” he said.

A support group for convicted activist Fail Alsynov published a video in which Ilyas Bayguskarov addresses a crowd of protesters with a call to disperse so that the convicted Alsynov’s sentence is not increased “due to resonance.”

On January 17, a court in Bashkortostan sentenced the defender of Mount Kushtau, Fail Alsynov, to four years in a general regime colony on charges of inciting hatred or enmity (Article 282 of the Criminal Code). According to investigators, he spoke negatively about residents of the Caucasus, Central Asia and Armenia and “humiliated their human dignity” during a gathering of citizens in the village of Ishmurzino in the Baymaksky district.

In his speech, Alsynov used the phrase “Kara halyk,” which can be literally translated into Russian as “we are the black people,” which actually means “we are the simple people.” Nevertheless, the author of the linguistic expertise, a specialist of the University of Science and Technology, Ainur Khuzhakhmetov, wrote that “the meaning of the phrase corresponds to the meaning of the words“ khachi ”,“ churki ”,“ black -faced ”. The denunciation of Alsynov, after which a criminal case was opened, was written by the head of Bashkortostan, Radiy Khabirov.

During the announcement of the verdict, several thousand people gathered near the Baymak court building. They chanted “Shame” and “Freedom.” between protesters and security forces Clashes occurred ; the latter used tear gas and tried to disperse the crowd with batons.

On the same day, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Bashkortostan reported on the initiation of a criminal case for mass riots (parts 1 and 2 of Article 212 of the Criminal Code) against participants in the rally in support of Alsynov. Later, the Investigative Committee added that the case was also opened under the article on the use of violence against police officers (Part 1 of Article 318 of the Criminal Code). Six protesters were arrested . under arrest were later placed Nine more detainees at the Baymak college . On January 18, a search was conducted , during which security forces detained several more people.

On January 19, in Ufa, on the square near the monument to Salavat Yulaev, took place another rally in support of Fail Alsynov. Several hundred people came to it: they sang Bashkir songs and danced in circles. Security forces detained several people. There were interruptions in mobile communications in the city.

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