Those convicted in the "Baimak case" are recognized as political prisoners

Human Rights Center "Memorial" said, which recognizes all 48 people convicted of participating in mass riots in as political prisoners Baimak.

"The scale of the criminal case is unprecedented even for Putin's Russia, and the severity of the sentences handed down is disproportionate to the social danger of the crime." — Memorial emphasized.

In fact, human rights activists believe that people were participating in a peaceful gathering regarding the unfair sentence handed down to an environmental activist. To Fail Alsynov, which was issued in January of last year by the Baimak City Court.

Memorial believes that security forces unjustifiably used force against people awaiting sentencing and chanting slogans. The police themselves provoked the crowd's discontent when they attempted to disperse it using tear gas, batons, and stun grenades. Claims that the security forces were in full riot gear have experienced physical pain from snowballs thrown at them, look absurd.

As a result of the "Baimak case," approximately 500 participants of the gathering were brought to administrative responsibility, and criminal cases were opened against 82 people (48 of whom have already been sentenced to terms ranging from 3 years 3 months to seven and a half years).

Human rights activists also recalled that security forces used violence during detentions and interrogations. In particular, the detainee Rifat Dautov died in a paddy wagon, Dima Davletkildin got spinal injuries, and Miniyar Baiguskarov done away with with him due to the pressure put on him.

The protests in Baimak became one of the largest protests in modern Russia - in them accepted More than five thousand people participated. Residents were outraged that the court sentenced an environmental activist who demanded an end to gold mining and the destruction of local wildlife to four years in prison.