“Mom was taken away and taken to an unknown direction.” How authorities persecute protest participants in Bashkortostan

Protests in Bashkortostan began after the trial of Fail Alsynov on January 15, when in the city of Baymak thousands of residents of the republic came to support the activist, who was tried under the article of “inciting hatred” (Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Alsynov is one of the most famous public figures in Bashkortostan, he defended the Kushtau Shikhan in 2020 and headed the nationalist organization Bashkort .

The reason for his criminal case was his speech at a gathering of residents of the village of Ishmurzino against gold mining on the Irandyk ridge. The activist used the expression “kara halyk,” which translates as “black people” or “rabble.” A criminal case was opened after a statement by the head of Bashkortostan, Radiy Khabirov. Later, Alsynov, turning to him, insisted that the experts had translated his words incorrectly, and he had nothing against “representatives of other nations” if they “respect our customs and traditions.”

On January 15, about five thousand people came to the Baymaksky District Court. The sentencing was postponed to January 17. The prosecutor requested four years in a penal colony, but the court's verdict was more severe: Alsynov was sentenced to four years in a general regime colony. That day, according to various estimates, up to ten thousand people came to the Baymak court building. People demanded Alsynov’s freedom, clashes with the police and arrests began.