The Sovetsky District Court of Ufa sent Vilyur Karachurin, a participant in the gathering in Baymak in support of Shikhanov defender Fail Alsynov, to pre-trial detention. Information about this was confirmed to Mediazona by appointed lawyer Olga Lukina.
Karachurin is accused of organizing mass riots and participating in them (parts 1 and 2 of Article 212 of the Criminal Code). In addition, he is accused of using violence not dangerous to life and health against a security officer (Part 1 of Article 318 of the Criminal Code).
Mediazona knows that Karachurin has four children, three of them are minors.
A case of participation in mass riots was also opened against activist Ilyas Bayguskarov from Ufa, who was present at the gathering. Today, Baiguskarov’s brother Ilgiz, in a support group on Telegram, published a video in which Ilyas calms the protesters.
The day before, the Kirovsky District Court of Ufa was supposed to consider a protocol on violation of the rules for holding rallies (part 6.1 of Article 20.2 of the Administrative Code) against Ilyas, but it was returned to the police due to «significant deficiencies».
“We are black people.” What is the Bashkir activist Fail Alsynov accused of, whom hundreds (and maybe thousands) of people came to trial today
On January 17, a court in Baymak sentenced the defender of the Bashkir shihans, Fail Alsynov, to four years in prison on charges of inciting hatred due to a speech at a village gathering against the plans of gold miners to begin developing deposits near the village of Ishmurzino (Part 1 of Article 282 of the Criminal Code). The prosecution asked that he be sentenced to four years in a penal colony.
According to investigators, in April 2022, Alsynov “made a speech in the Bashkir language containing statements that negatively assessed the “residents of the Caucasus,” “Central Asia,” and “residents of the Caucasus.” and «Armenians». The case was opened on the initiative of the head of Bashkortostan, Radiy Khabirov — he wrote a complaint to the prosecutor's office.
“The Armenians will leave for their homeland, "kara halyk" — to ourselves, the Russians — to their Ryazan, the Tatars — to their Tatarstan,” Alsynov said in Bashkir. “We cannot move, we have no other home, our home is here!” The expression “kara halyk” — “black people” — was an accusation and was considered an insult. The defense insists this is a misinterpretation. In fact, this phrase means “common people.”
Before the verdict, the road to the court was blocked, but the activist’s associates still gathered there. Within a radius of several kilometers, the mobile Internet was almost completely jammed. After the decision, protests continued with hundreds of people chanting “Freedom!”
Soon arrests began. The security forces began to crowd around the crowd with shields, knock down and drag people through the snow, and beat the protesters with batons. The police used tear gas and stun grenades. In response, lumps of snow flew at them. Several protesters were hospitalized. The publication “Proof” wrote that about 40 people were injured.
At least 22 participants in the gathering received up to 15 days of arrest under reports of disobedience to police officers (Part 1 of Article 19.3 of the Administrative Code) or violation of the rules for holding rallies (Part 6.1 of Article 20.2 of the Administrative Code). The human rights project «OVD-Info» reported today on five new administrative arrests — those who came to support Alsynov were given four to 13 days in court.
After the meeting, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case under articles of mass riots and the use of violence in against security forces (parts 1 and 2 of Article 212, part 1 of Article 318 of the Criminal Code). Karachurin is the first known defendant on both counts.
Gathering in Baymak. Protests after the verdict of activist Fail Alsynov in Bashkortostan
Updated at 19:25. Information about administrative arrests has been clarified.