Crackdown in Bashkortostan: Activist imprisonment sparks protests, security forces respond with disappearances

Protests peaked when activist Fayil Alsynov was sentenced to a four-year imprisonment in Bashkiria, Russia, for supposedly "inciting ethnic hatred". As early as 2022, Alsynov was fined for his vocal opposition to the war in Ukraine and his efforts to mobilize the Bashkirs. His activism has now landed him in prison.

The region has been the scene of protests for several days. The largest was registered on Friday, January 19, with hundreds arriving at Salavat Yulayev square in Ufa. Gatherers invoked their wish to lay flowers under the monument of the national hero of Bashkortostan as their reason for congregating. However, the police remained unconvinced.

Russian officers initially cleared almost all the protesters from the square and are now systematically going from house to house in the region in search of protesters.

As reported by Anton Herashchenko, adviser to the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, residents of Temyaso village stated that locals, spotted outside the Baymak courthouse where activist Fayil Alsynov was tried, were herded onto an unlicensed bus and taken away in an unknown direction.

Moreover, one of the activists, Dim Daveltkildin, was detained at the Baymak police station when he attended for questioning. Earlier, his house was searched while he was absent. Davletkildin and 36 others were taken to Ufa. Communication with the detainees has been lost.

Later, Daveltkildin's wife revealed that a criminal case has been filed against him. "At 6PM, I received a call informing me that he has been charged under article 212 section 2 of the Criminal Code," she stated.