Protests Escalate in Russia's Bashkortostan Over Jailing of Rights Activist

Fail Alsynov's four-year sentence sparks widespread demonstrations, exposing deep-seated discontent within Russia's authoritarian system.

Protests in Russia's Bashkortostan republic continue to escalate following the jailing of popular rights activist Fail Alsynov, with the most recent demonstration taking place in the regional capital, Ufa.
Alsynov was sentenced to four years in a penal colony for allegedly inciting ethnic hatred towards migrant workers, a charge he denies, arguing his words were poorly translated into Russian.
The demonstrations, which have resulted in numerous detentions, are some of the most significant since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Regional head Radiy Khabirov has accused the protesters of inciting extremism and being influenced from abroad, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the protests as 'individual incidents'.
Alsynov's case has exposed deeper layers of discontent within Russia's highly centralized, authoritarian system, with the protests not only against the Kremlin but also expressing discontent with Bashkortostan head Radiy Khabirov.