"They said, 'Sit quiet.'" Authorities threatened residents of Buryatia who oppose apatite mining.

Residents of the village of Oshurkovo staged a protest against apatite mining in their area, hanging black flags along the road. In response, authorities and propaganda channels have been named The action, using "Maidan technology" "financed by foreign agents," warned public sector employees to "sit quietly."

"In the federal Telegram channel appeared Just three hours later, a report about the protest appeared. It claimed a "Maidan" was brewing in Buryatia, led by "Buryat foreign agents" who had fled Russia, Russophobes. <…>At work, those who worked for the public sector were told to "sit quietly." There was a bit of panic among the local population," one activist told the publication "Regional Aspect." The day after the protest, unknown individuals in white coats and medical masks tore down the black flags. According to a village resident who previously worked in the police, the car they arrived in belonged to the son of a local deputy.

Government pressure on protesters against the construction of industrial facilities that threaten the environmental conditions of regions and the health of their residents has become a systemic practice in Russia. For example, about a month ago, six activists defending Losiny Ostrov National Park was detained by security forces during road construction and later fined for "disobeying the police."

Apatit Agro is the investor in the quarry development project in the village of Oshurkovo. The deposit's development is estimated at 63 billion rubles. Apatite is used in fertilizer production.

Residents of Oshurkovo received no information from the company at public hearings about potential environmental damage or compensation. In 1986, the Selenga River in this area was contaminated by industrial waste, killing 15 people. Residents fear a repeat of this situation and the environmental impact of Lake Baikal, as the Selenga River flows into the lake.