The Ministry of Internal Affairs opened a case of mass unrest after protests in Bashkiria

In the city of Baymak in Bashkiria (population about 18 thousand people), an uncoordinated public protest is taking place in support of Fail Alchinov (listed as a terrorist and extremist). Today, the Baymaksky District Court found 37-year-old Alchinov guilty of inciting hatred or enmity, humiliation of human dignity (Part 1 of Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and appointed he has four years of imprisonment in a general regime colony. The police opened criminal cases of mass riots against participants in the unauthorized rally, the head of the public council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the republic told RIA Novosti.

By decision of the court, Fail Alchinov was taken into custody. Journalists present at the scene reported that by the time the hearing began, several thousand people had gathered at the courthouse. At the same time, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Bashkiria warned citizens in advance in the media that the action in support of Alchinov was uncoordinated and urged them not to participate in it.

The crowd outside the courthouse reacted negatively to the news of the guilty verdict and began chanting: “Freedom!” The police called on those gathered to disperse, once again declaring the action uncoordinated and illegal. After this, clashes between protesters and security forces began. Authorities used batons and tear gas.

It is difficult to determine the number of active protest participants based on footage from the scene. Local media write about the arrests. According to unofficial information, we are talking about at least 20 detainees. Telegram channels report that employees of the Russian National Guard have left for Baymak.

According to today’s verdict, on April 28, 2023, Alchinov publicly spoke at a gathering of citizens near a rural cultural center with “a speech of negative content towards persons of Armenian, Caucasian and Central Asian nationalities.” The statements concerned the possibility of non-local residents working at a gold deposit in the Baymak region of Bashkiria. Alchinov called for stopping its development.

The court also issued private rulings against the head of the Baymak district administration and the head of the district police department for the lack of preventive work in countering extremist activities. The case was considered behind closed doors. The verdict has not yet entered into legal force.

Fail Alchinov previously headed the unregistered organization “Bashkort”. In 2020, the Supreme Court of Bashkiria recognized it as extremist and banned. Alchinov was also brought to justice for participating in actions against the development of the Kushtau Shikhan by the Bashkir Soda Company.

Read more about the Kushtau case in the material “The show continues”.

Vlada Shipilova, Ufa