Report of the Ombudsman of the Bashkir Nation on Human Rights violations in the Bashkortostan Republic

Ombudsman Aygul Lyon

August 2025

Overall Picture

In the Republic of Bashkortostan, the tendency towards systematic restriction of fundamental human rights and freedoms persists and intensifies. These violations most acutely affect representatives of the indigenous Bashkir people, activists of national movements, environmentalists and independent journalists. The application of criminal law is selective and is used as an instrument of political pressure. “Baimak Case” The January 2024 protests in the city of Baymak became a turning point. Residents came out to the courthouse to express their disagreement with the verdict of Fail Alsynov. Despite the peaceful nature of the gatherings, the authorities qualified the events as “mass riots”. As a result, a criminal case was opened, called “Baimak Case”. To date, 77 people have been subject to criminal prosecution. Sentences of up to 7.5 years in prison have been handed down, and a significant portion of the defendants remain under investigation or awaiting trial. According to human rights activists, at least two of the defendants died under unclear circumstances in pretrial detention or during transportation, and another person was left disabled for life as a result of torture. These facts directly indicate a violation of the right to life, liberty and security of person, as well as the prohibition of torture and inhuman treatment enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Of particular note is the violation of the principle of territorial jurisdiction. According to Russian law (Article 32 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation), a criminal case must be considered by the court at the place where the alleged crime was committed. A change in territorial jurisdiction is allowed only in exceptional cases (Article 35 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation). This rule has been violated in relation to the defendants in the “Baimak Case”: a significant portion of the trials are being conducted outside Bashkortostan. This is a direct violation of Russian criminal procedure legislation and international fair trial standards enshrined in Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Olga Komleva’s Case

In August 2025, a court in Ufa sentenced journalist and activist Olga Komleva to 12 years in a general regime penal colony. The basis was charges of participating in an extremist community and “disseminating knowingly false information” about the actions of the russian army. In addition to imprisonment, she was subject to additional restrictions: a ban on organizing mass events and managing Internet resources. Such a punishment appears disproportionate and contrary to russia’s international obligations to protect freedom of expression. Journalistic activity and participation in public initiatives cannot be classified as crimes requiring such severe sanctions.

Cases of discrimination in the sphere of application of the law

Fail Alsynov, a public figure, was sentenced to four years in prison for using the expression “kara khalyk” (“laborers”, “ordinary people”) in a speech in the Bashkir language. The court recognized this statement as extremist. At the same time, no criminal punishment followed for real offensive publications and statements directed against the Bashkirs and other non-Slavic peoples. Thus, a resident of Sibay, Ekaterina Yevstigneeva, supported by the neo-Nazi organization “Russian Community”, was not subjected to either criminal or administrative prosecution for nationalistic and derogatory statements addressed to the Bashkir people. A similar situation is observed with 67-year-old resident of Ufa Zoya K., who received a minimum fine of 3,000 rubles, paid by the same “Russian Community”. This practice demonstrates the inequality in the application of the law to representatives of the indigenous population and to supporters of Russian nationalist movements, which is a violation of the principles of equality and non-discrimination.

Persecution of the defenders of Kyrktytau

The situation around the Kyrktytau ridge deserves special attention. Here, the local population and environmental activists are fighting against industrial development of the territory, which is being carried out without the proper approval procedures and with obvious violations of environmental standards. A criminal case has been opened against activist Ural Baybulatov, one of the most famous defenders of Kyrktytau. The pressure is not limited to individual defendants: mass searches are being carried out at potential participants in the movement, illegal restrictions on freedom of movement for residents of nearby settlements are being recorded. Local residents are prevented from organizing meetings and rallies, effectively depriving them of the right to participate in decision-making affecting their lands and future. All this is a direct violation of the right to freedom of assembly and the right of indigenous peoples to preserve the natural environment and traditional way of life.

Conclusion

The events of recent years in Bashkortostan testify to a systematic policy of repression. Mass criminal cases against protesters, deaths and injuries in pretrial detention centers, excessive prison terms for journalists and activists, criminal prosecution for words in the Bashkir language while Russian nationalists enjoy impunity, pressure on environmental movements – all these phenomena come together to form a single picture. Fundamental human rights are being consistently undermined in the republic: freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, the right to life and security, the right to a fair trial. The indigenous Bashkir population is particularly vulnerable, subjected to selective persecution and discrimination. These facts require the attention and response of the international community. Bashkortostan today is a region where the trend towards human rights violations is systemic and growing, and ignoring it poses a threat not only to the residents of the republic themselves, but also to compliance with international standards for the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples in general.