Chronicle of events in Baimak
Information is being supplemented
Bashkir eco-activist Failya Alsynova judge Elina Tagirova sentenced to 4 years in a general regime penal colony under Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation "Incitement of hatred or enmity."
Alsynov is a father of four children. Last night, his wife, Galiya, published a video message in Bashkir. She thanked those who support her husband and asked the head of the republic to stop "going crazy."
Communications are being jammed, roads are blocked, and people are walking to the courthouse – activist Fail Alsynov is on trial in Bashkortostan today.
Correspondent NotMoscow He reported that traffic police officers stopped almost every car entering the city of Baimak and checked documents. The road was closed approximately 500 meters before the courthouse. At least four buses carrying police officers, including special forces, were parked. Mobile internet was down.
To say more about Alsynov I just walked into the courthouse. The correspondent estimates that several thousand people have gathered outside the building, people from all over the republic. They continue to arrive, chanting "Freedom!", "Fail, we are with you," and "There will be more of us."
Yesterday evening the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic warned on responsibility for participating in unauthorized protests and called on people not to take part in them. Also yesterday arrested Several of Alsynov's supporters. Telegram channels calling on people to come to support the activist were blocked.
The prosecutor requested a four-year prison sentence for Alsynov. The verdict was scheduled to be announced two days ago, but was postponed until January 17. On January 15, approximately 4 people gathered outside the courthouse, demanding that the criminal prosecution be dropped.
Alsynov is an environmental activist; a criminal case was opened against him at the request of the head of the republic. Radiya Khabirova. The occasion was Alsynov’s speech in the Bashkir language, delivered at a gathering of citizens in the village Ishmurzino In April 2023, villagers protested against geological exploration in the Baimak district, expressed their lack of confidence in local authorities, and "re-elected" the village head. The activist allegedly negatively expressed against entrepreneurs from neighboring countries involved in mineral development. Protests in the Baimaksky District ended in victory for residents—the developers renounced their rights to use the mineral resources.
On January 16, Alsynov was added to the list of extremists.
Arrests began near the courthouse in Baimak after the sentencing of environmental activist Fail Alsynov.
4-5 people were detained, the correspondent reports. NotMoscow from the scene. A scuffle broke out before this—people who had gathered to support Alsynov began pushing back the barrier of police officers with shields, and they managed to push the security forces back several meters.
Around 80 riot police have gathered at the gate from which Alsynov is expected to be removed, preventing the crowd from approaching the gate. People are chanting "Freedom!" and "Khabirov resign!"
According to the correspondent, there is a provocateur with a gas canister in the crowd.
UPD: As the correspondent reports, several people left the courthouse, likely discussing how to remove the environmental activist—there is a dense crowd around the building.
People are being beaten with batons, and riot police have launched a new offensive against those gathered outside the courthouse in Baimak.
Several more people have been detained, and riot police are beating people with batons and pushing the crowd back 15-20 meters. In response, people are throwing chunks of frozen snow at the security forces, a correspondent reports. NotMoscowRiot police threw what appeared to be smoke bombs into the crowd, some of which flew back at them. Thick smoke was visible above the crowd in several places.
The correspondent also reported that batons were flying overhead—apparently, people were snatching them from the hands of the security forces and throwing them away.
During the standoff with security forces, people threw whatever they had at hand at them, such as gloves, hats, and snow, a NeMoskva correspondent reports from the scene.
Communications are blocked, so videos of what NeMoskva reports appear from the scene a little later.
Video: Kushtau Bayram
The standoff at the court in Baimak is quiet for now, and an ambulance has arrived to help the victims.
Paddy wagon with Fail Alsynov hasn't yet left the courthouse. According to various versions of events, the security forces are either waiting for reinforcements or waiting for the crowd to begin to disperse, the correspondent reports. NotMoscowIf the paddy wagon leaves now, the crowd probably won't let it through. The riot police have cleared the exit gate, but the road is blocked by a large number of people.
Meanwhile, the crowd has indeed begun to disperse, the correspondent reports. People have been out in the cold for several hours now. It's -20 degrees Celsius in Baimak today!
Security forces had previously used tear gas, but our correspondent observed that the wind was blowing the gas toward the police, and they quickly stopped using it.
An ambulance arrived at the scene where the arrests took place, a NeMoskva correspondent reported.
Today in Baimak it's -20 degrees below zero.
Video: Kushtau Bayram
Video has emerged showing tear gas being used against protesters.
Due to connection problems, the video appeared later, but NeMoskva had already reported on it earlier.
A follower of the "Once Upon a Time in Bashkiria" public group reports that riot police pushed people back, hitting men on the head and back with batons, and people throwing snow at them in response. People have organized themselves and are ignoring police calls to go home. The protesters are freezing, but they have no intention of leaving.
"All ages are participating, but the defense is mostly held by young and middle-aged men. Children and the elderly are asked to step back. Those holding the defense retreat, warm up, and return. They're waiting for Alsynov, perhaps trying to save him from the security forces. The men say they'll overturn the bus, but they won't give up Fail."
Video: Rusnews
A new wave of violence in Baymak, police again use tear gas
As our correspondent reports, reinforcements have arrived in Baymak, and security forces have begun to violently push back the protesters. "Three guys were running, holding their eyes, and said they were being pressed hard," - transmits correspondent «NotMoscow"Those gathered outside the courthouse report that many people were injured by tear gas.
Failya Alsynova He had not yet been removed from the courthouse. Earlier, people who had gathered in his support assumed that the police were expecting reinforcements to push people off the road where the police van would be passing.
Video: Kushtau Bayram
Protesters in Baymak are urging the police not to use force, and the police are urging them to disperse.
A group of about 20 police officers found themselves in the center of the crowd. They formed a circle, protected themselves with shields, and were surrounded by people who were trying to persuade them not to use force against the crowd. This was reported by correspondent «NotMoscow" Attempts by other police officers to rescue their colleagues have so far been unsuccessful. Those gathered learned that security forces had arrived from the city of Sibay as reinforcements and were trying to convince them not to attack their own. In total, there are several hundred police officers outside the courthouse.
On the other hand, Fail Alsynov's father emerged from behind the police line and called on the protesters through a megaphone to disperse, allowing the police van to pass and avoid further confrontation. In exchange, they reportedly promised to release the detainees. Prior to this, police had repeatedly called on the protesters to disperse, to no avail.
Earlier, police used tear gas and stun grenades, injuring dozens of people, and several ambulances arrived at the scene of the clashes.
Video: Kushtau Bayram
Protesters in Baimak disperse from the courthouse after Fail Alsynov's father addressed them.
People began to move away, some reluctantly, reports correspondent for "NeMoskva"In exchange, the protesters were promised the release of "the last four detainees," but people are skeptical, as they believe there are at least 15 detainees.

