"Kushtau, live!"
August 3 marks the anniversary of the protests against the deforestation of the Kushtau shihan.
These protests are one of the most successful environmental movements of recent years. Despite resistance from security forces and repression against activists, the protesters were able to protect this valuable natural area from industrial development and secure protected status for it.
"NeMoscow" has reconstructed the sequence of events.
1. Kushtau is one of Bashkortostan's four famous shikhans, an ancient limestone hill approximately 230 million years old, formed on the reefs of an ancient sea. It is not only a natural monument but also a popular destination for tourism, rock climbing, and recreation. The slopes of the shikhan are home to dozens of rare plant and animal species listed in the Red Data Books of Russia and Bashkortostan.
2. The Bashkir Soda Company planned to use Kushtau limestone as raw material for soda production, as other deposits were being depleted. To begin work, it was necessary to clear some of the forest on the slopes of the shikhan, after which industrial development of the deposit was planned.
3. At the end of July, activists set up a tent camp at the foot of Kushtau. Gradually, the camp became a permanent center of resistance, with new volunteers arriving daily. Environmental activists, representatives of public organizations, scientists, athletes, and simply concerned individuals participated in the protests. Later, they were joined by prominent public figures and artists.
4. On August 3, 2020, logging began on the mountain. Kushtau defenders demanded documents from the workers and initially succeeded in halting the work. However, by August 5, the conflict escalated into violence: private security guards and police arrived on the scene, activists were detained, and the first clashes erupted. Several people were injured, and those detained received administrative arrests. In the following days, the number of protesters grew to several thousand.
On August 15, private security company employees and riot police raided the Kushtau defenders' camp. More than 70 activists were detained. Company representatives began fencing off the industrial site with a chain-link fence and barbed wire. But within the next two days, the protesters had regained their positions. "The camp was retaken, and the defenders came with shovels and stones. The guards scattered. Now they've torn down all the chain-link fencing and are fortifying the camp," said one participant.
On August 17, Bashkortostan Governor Radiy Khabirov arrived at the site. He announced that the development of Kushtau would be suspended. "Today, everyone is leaving here, leaving the mountain—BSC is leaving, and you are leaving. And I give you my word here that no one will set foot on this mountain until we find a compromise solution," Khabirov said.
The protesters demanded the release of those detained and the resignation of Azamat Abdrakhmanov, head of the Ishimbay district, whom activists accused of leading the military operation against the mountain's defenders. But Khabirov refused.
7. In the following days, the Ishimbay City Court heard 74 administrative offense reports against those detained during the standoff near Kushtau between August 16 and 19. Forty-one administrative cases resulted in prison sentences ranging from 1 to 15 days, and another 33 cases resulted in fines ranging from 500 to 1,000 rubles.
Subsequently, several of the most prominent participants in Kushtau's defense were charged with using violence against government officials. The most prominent defendant, Yunir Abdullin, was sentenced to eighteen months in prison in 2023.
8. In September 2020, Bashkortostan authorities announced the creation of a specially protected natural area in Kushtau and approved protected zones. Putin ordered an investigation into the circumstances of the privatization of the Bashkir Soda Company, and as a result, the controlling stake was returned to the state.
9. Kushtau became a symbol of the struggle to preserve natural heritage. The protests at Kushtau are still considered one of the most successful environmental movements of recent years. Following these events, issues of protecting valuable natural areas, community participation in environmental decision-making, and the balance between industrial development and environmental conservation became much more actively discussed both in Bashkortostan and other regions of Russia.
