Who is Fail Alsynov, whose sentence caused unrest in Bashkiria

The head of Bashkiria, Radiy Khabirov, commented on the riots caused by supporters of Fail Alsynov, convicted of inciting ethnic hatred. Mr. Khabirov said that the authorities “have not fully revealed the essence and content of these people,” but he “will not remain silent” and will show their “true face.” What is known about Fail Alsynov at the moment is in the Kommersant certificate.

Alsynov Fail Fattakhovich (listed as extremists in Russia) was born on December 7, 1986 in the village of Yuldybaevo, Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (now the Republic of Bashkortostan). In the passport the surname is written as Alchinov. Graduated from the Faculty of History of the Bashkir State University.

Since 2007, he was a member of the unregistered organization “Kuk-Bure” (translation options – “Heavenly Wolf” or “Grey Wolf”). The organization called its goal “the protection of national, cultural, social, economic and political rights and interests of Bashkirs in the Russian Federation and citizens of the Republic of Bashkortostan.” Kuk-Bure, in particular, carried out unauthorized actions for preservation positions of the President of Bashkiria and for competitive elections heads of the region in 2014.

From the book of local activist Ruslan Gabbasov (recognized as a foreign agent), “Notes of a Bashkir nationalist,” it follows that, among other things, “Kuk-Bure” appointed “shooters” with Russian nationalists and immigrants from the Caucasus republics. According to researchers nationalist organizations, members of Kuk-Bure copied the radical Turkish Bozkurt movement and used its distinctive gesture to greet.

From 2011 to 2014 he worked in the apparatus of the World Kurultai of Bashkirs, which is a union of republican public organizations. According to Ruslan Gabbasov, he lost his position due to criticism of the then head of the republic, Rustem Khamitov.

Since 2014, after the collapse of Kuk-Bure, he organized the unregistered “Bashkir public organization “Bashkort”” (recognized as extremist). “Bashkort” advocated for national quotas in the government of the republic and the assignment of key positions to Bashkirs. The organization maintained contacts with nationalist movements from Turkey and Kazakhstan and had branches in several regions of the republic. On VKontakte, about 60 thousand users were subscribed to her public page. Since 2017, Bashkort has held a series of rallies for the resignation of the then head of the republic, Rustem Khamitov.

In September-November 2018, in Temyasovo and Sibay, local residents clashed with Kurdish migrants and workers from Chechnya. According to the publication “Proofs,” Fail Alsynov, together with Bashkort activists, supported spontaneous protests and illegally detained Chechens, whom they accused of attacks on local residents. After the incident, the Kirovsky District Court of Ufa fined Fail Alsynov 150 thousand rubles. for organizing an “unauthorized rally.”

In December 2019, the Bashkortostan prosecutor’s office issued a warning to Bashkort “about the inadmissibility of extremist activity.” In May 2020, the Supreme Court of Bashkiria declared Bashkort extremist and banned its activities in Russia.

The case separately examined the minutes of the meeting (Kurultai) of the Bashkirs of the Zilair region, which took place in April 2019. The prosecutor’s office, relying on a document drawn up in Russian, believed that Fail Alsynov publicly stated the need for Bashkiria to secede from Russia. The defense insisted that the protocol was fictitious.

In August 2020, Fail Alsynov took part in rallies to protect the Kushtau Shikhan, which was transferred to the Bashkir Soda Company for development. As a result of the protests, the interested parties abandoned the development of the mountain, and the activist became known outside the region.

In December 2022, the Kirovsky District Court of Ufa fined Fail Alsynov 10 thousand rubles. according to Art. 20.3.1. Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (“Inciting hatred or enmity, as well as humiliation of human dignity”). The reason was a post he published on the social network VKontakte on the first day of mobilization. In the text, Fail Alsynov called it not in line with the interests of the Bashkir people.

In April 2023, Fail Alsynov took part in protests in the village of Ishmurzino in the Baymak region of Bashkiria against gold mining on the Irandyk mountain range. The media reported that he used the phrase “kara halyk” (translated as “black people”) “in a speech with negative content in relation to persons of Armenian, Caucasian and Central Asian nationalities.” According to Fail Alsynov himself, he used this expression to mean “laborers.”

After the event, a criminal case was opened against Fail Alsynov under the article of inciting ethnic hatred (Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). On January 17, 2024, the Baymaksky District Court found him guilty and sentenced him to four years in prison. On the eve of the verdict, Rosfinmonitoring also included him in the list of extremists.

According to media reports, Fail Alsynov recently worked in a small private construction company as a foreman. He is married and has four children.