Summary:
Riot police clash with demonstrators in Bashkortostan, Russia, following rights activist Fail Alsynov’s sentencing to four years, accused of inciting ethnic hatred.
In Bashkortostan, southern Russia, clashes erupted between riot police and protesters following the sentencing of rights activist Fail Alsynov to four years in a penal colony.
Alsynov, accused of inciting ethnic hatred, faced tear gas and baton strikes as supporters clashed with law enforcement near the courthouse.
Amid temperatures of -20C, thousands demonstrated for several days, expressing solidarity with Alsynov. Some tried to block the courthouse entrance post-verdict.
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Authorities have launched investigations, threatening “mass rioting” charges, with a potential 15-year prison sentence.
Interior Minister Rafail Divayev warned protesters, urging them to reconsider actions. Reports indicate injuries, with one protester suffering a “smashed head.” Alsynov, known for opposing soda mining in a sacred site, faced delayed retaliation for allegedly insulting migrants during an anti-gold mining demonstration.
Alsynov, claiming mistranslation, intends to appeal. His past criticism of military mobilization as “genocide” against Bashkir people adds complexity to the case.
Previously leading Bashkort, banned in 2020, he aimed to preserve Bashkir ethnic identity amid ongoing tensions.