Mass Protests Erupt in Russia's Bashkortostan Over Jailing of Activist Fail Alsynov

Clashes with Police as Thousands Rally in Support of Alsynov, Sentenced for 'Inciting Ethnic Hatred'

Fail Alsynov, a rights activist in Russia's Bashkortostan region, has been sentenced to four years in prison for 'inciting ethnic hatred', a charge he denies.
Alsynov's sentencing sparked one of the largest protests in Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine, with thousands gathering in the town of Baymak in support of the activist.
Clashes broke out between the police and the protesters, with police using tear gas, flash grenades and batons to disperse the crowd.
Alsynov was a leader of Bashkort, a grassroots movement working to preserve the culture, language and ethnic identity of the region's people, which was banned as an 'extremist organization' in 2020.
Alsynov's supporters argue that the charges against him are politically motivated, stemming from his activism against mining operations in the region and his criticism of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.