Human Rights Violations Report Republic of Gorny Altay
February 2026
In the Republic of Gorny Altay, systematic violations of fundamental human rights continue. Public opinion and the political rights of the Republic’s residents are ignored. When making decisions regarding economic and social changes in the Republic, the interests of residents, their protests, complaints and proposals are not taken into account. No public discussion of issues important to the population is conducted.
In addition, repression and unreasonably harsh sentences are applied against protesters. Further pressure is recorded, in particular, on the press and freedom of speech in general.
Fine of 30,000 rubles to a prisoner for an anti-war slogan shouted aloud in a punishment cell
A prisoner who was placed in a punishment cell was additionally convicted for shouting, while walking down the corridor, a phrase in which he expressed disagreement with Russian military aggression.
While in the punishment cell, presumably in IK-9 in the Altay Kray, according to the case materials, prisoner Turanov Mikhail Igorevich was walking down the corridor and shouted certain words, thereby criminally “expressing public protest against the war, thereby distorting and discrediting the tasks of using the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation outside the territory of the Russian Federation”.
Which, according to the prosecution, also “undermined trust in the conduct of the special military operation”.
For the consideration of this case, the court recognized the premises of the punishment cell as a public place.
Link: https://zona.media/news/2026/02/11/turanov
In Altay Correctional Colony No. 10, a political prisoner convicted for supporting Ukraine is being cruelly treated, he requested hospitalization
62-year-old former municipal deputy Alexey Gorinov (convicted for anti-war statements) is being forced by threats to take off his sweater in a cold cell. According to Gorinov’s testimony, the temperature in the room is such that ice forms on the frame inside the room. What is happening has affected his health. Alexey developed bronchitis.
Alexey Gorinov was sentenced to 7 years for calling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a war, not a “special operation”, at a deputies’ meeting, talking about the deaths of children from the actions of the Russian army and the intention of the Russian authorities to seize the entire territory of Ukraine.
Already in the colony, he was given an additional 3 years to his term for a conversation with another prisoner about Ukraine and its right to shell the Crimean Bridge, as well as the fact that the Azov regiment is not terrorists, but the armed forces of Ukraine, convicting Alexey under the article “on justification of terrorism”.
On February 10, the State Assembly of the Republic of Altay, despite protests, approved the decision to organize a gambling zone in the Republic
Local residents are concerned both about the risk of increasing gambling addiction among young people and the risks of destruction of natural objects and sacred religious places of worship. In addition, the local population is planned to have their ancestral lands used for living and farming taken away for the gambling zone. At the same time, the Altayans clearly realize that they will not be allowed to earn money from tourists in such a gambling zone at all, but, having been deprived of land, they will be left to deal with numerous problems in the form of effluents and garbage waste.
The local public organization “Kurultai of the Altay People” reminded parliamentarians of 3914 signatures of Altay residents against the opening of a casino and indicated that such a decision would intensify social problems associated with gambling addiction. Also, representatives of the movement promised to carefully monitor the individual decisions of each deputy, and either write his name in history for supporting the people, or issue a “black mark” for those who voted “for”.
According to activists, this convocation of deputies and the governor appointed by Moscow, a stranger to the Republic, have already led by their activities to catastrophic consequences for the people, distorted the Constitution, destroying the concept of territorial integrity despite protests, and also carried out an absolutely anti-democratic “reform”, destroying local self-government and elections.
The Parliament of the Republic once again did not hear the Altay people. 30 deputies out of 39 who gathered voted “for” the casino.
Links: https://t.me/kurultaiRA/1311
https://t.me/horizontal_russia/52841
https://semnasem.org/news/2026/02/10/gossobranie-altaya-podderzhalo-sozdanie-igornoj-zony-nesmotrya-na-protesty-deputat-uspokoil-chto-mestnye-vryad-li-budut-tam-proigryvat-potomu-chto-u-ni