Report on Human Rights Violations in the Republic of Buryatia

November 2025
Prepared based on independent analysis of open sources
Petr Dondukov

1. Introduction and General Climate

In November 2025, the human rights situation in the Republic of Buryatia was characterized by a climate of intensifying repression and pervasive persecution of dissent, continuing a deteriorating trend observed throughout the year. The general climate was heavily influenced by the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has had a disproportionate impact on the region. Buryatia continued to experience one of the highest mobilization and casualty rates in the Russian Federation, a reality driven by economic desperation and aggressive, digitally-enabled recruitment tactics, including the use of electronic summonses (https://www.euaa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/publications/2025-12/2025_12_EUAA_COI_Report_Russia_Country_Focus.pdf). This has led to what activists describe as the use of ethnic minorities as ‘cannon fodder’ (https://us.dk/media/fixlsvgr/report-march-2025-conscription-in-russia.pdf). The political atmosphere was described as ‘tightening,’ with a growing number of political prisoners and individuals receiving harsh sentences for online anti-war comments or expressing support for Buryat independence. The legal framework for repression was actively enforced, with new laws tightening ‘foreign agent’ controls (https://ulanude.bezformata.com/listnews/novih-zakonah-s-noyabrya/152735026/) and expanding the definition of ‘extremism’ being applied locally. This created a chilling effect that virtually eliminated public protest and open dissent; the absence of recorded protests during the month is seen not as a lack of opposition but as evidence of the success of pre-emptive state suppression. The period was marked by the transnational repression of Buryat activists, such as the case of Alexander Bolokhoev, who faced deportation from the U.S. and the risk of torture in Russia (https://www.currenttime.tv/a/buryatskyi-aktivist-deportatsiya-rossiya/33572400.html), and the continued persecution of exiled journalists. The official narrative from state bodies, including the regional Human Rights Commissioner, focused on state-aligned priorities while systematically omitting politically sensitive issues (https://egov-buryatia.ru/uppch/press_center/news/detail.php?ID=198047), further obscuring the true state of human rights in the republic.

2. Political Persecution and Risk of Torture

Name: Alexander Bolokhoev
Description: Alexander Bolokhoev is a 41-year-old co-founder of the Buryat independence movement ‘Tusgaar Buryad-Mongolia’ and a member of the Committee for Buryat Independence. He is known for his public activism, including efforts to debunk the ‘combat Buryats’ propaganda myth. His political activities are centered on advocating for the independence of Buryatia.
Status in Nov 2025: Detained, facing deportation. As of November 2, 2025, he was being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a detention center in Oklahoma, USA, and was facing potential deportation back to the Russian Federation (https://www.currenttime.tv/a/buryatskyi-aktivist-deportatsiya-rossiya/33572400.html).
Risk Assessment: There is a high and credible risk of torture and long-term imprisonment if he is deported to Russia. Human rights activists and his family have expressed grave fears that his return would lead to ‘inevitable torture’ and potential death. It is believed that Russian authorities would use torture to coerce him into revealing the names of other members of the independence movement.
Legal Basis for Persecution: The Russian Ministry of Justice designated the ‘Tusgaar Buryad-Mongolia’ movement and the ‘Committee of Buryat Independence’ as ‘terrorist and extremist’ organizations on July 25, 2024. This designation forms the legal basis for a criminal case against Bolokhoev in Russia, making him a target for political persecution upon his potential return.

3. Freedom of Speech and Censorship

In November 2025, freedom of speech and access to information in the Republic of Buryatia were subject to both direct local censorship and a broader, intensifying federal framework of repression. A specific, documented incident of censorship occurred on November 9, 2025, when the Kurumkan District Prosecutor’s Office successfully filed and won a lawsuit to restrict public access to unspecified ‘prohibited information’ available online (https://ombudsman.media/report-october-2025-buryatia/). This action represents a direct, localized infringement on the right to access information by state authorities within Buryatia.

This local action took place within a national context of escalating digital control that impacted all Russian regions. Throughout November 2025, the federal government and its media regulator, Roskomnadzor, implemented several measures that severely curtailed the free flow of information. These included the increasing use of mobile internet shutdowns, where access was often limited to a ‘whitelist’ of state-approved services and pro-government media. Popular messaging applications like WhatsApp and Telegram faced significant disruptions, with voice call functions largely inaccessible, requiring the use of VPNs for stable communication. Furthermore, the Russian government approved new regulations granting Roskomnadzor centralized authority to disconnect the Russian internet (Runet) from external networks during perceived ‘security threats.’ This was part of a massive censorship campaign that saw a record 1.289 million online pages blocked in Russia during 2025, a 59% increase from the previous year. This combination of a specific local censorship case and the oppressive federal digital environment created a highly restrictive climate for freedom of expression in Buryatia.

4. Persecution of Journalists and Activists

Name: Evgenia Baltatarova
Role: Journalist
Status: In exile in France. Previously designated a ‘foreign agent’ in 2022 and sentenced in absentia to seven years in prison in July 2025 (https://ombudsman.media/report-october-2025-buryatia/). On November 5, 2025, a new administrative protocol was filed against her.
Charges: Article 20.33 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, which penalizes ‘participation in the activities of an undesirable organization’. This is in addition to previous charges for spreading ‘fakes’ about the Russian army and non-compliance with ‘foreign agent’ obligations.
Summary of Case: On November 5, 2025, Russian authorities in Buryatia filed an administrative protocol against prominent journalist Evgenia Baltatarova, despite her being in exile. The case materials were submitted to the Oktyabrsky District Court of Ulan-Ude. This action represents a direct local application of the federal ‘undesirable organizations’ law and is part of an ongoing campaign of persecution against her for her independent reporting and critical stance.

5. Indigenous and Minority Rights Violations

Violation Type: Legal and Political Repression of Indigenous Activism and Self-Government
Description: The Russian government systematically suppresses Buryat indigenous rights through legal and political means (https://advocacy.ovd.info/economic-social-and-cultural-rights-under-political-pressure). In November 2025, this manifested in the direct local enforcement of repressive federal laws. On November 5, an administrative protocol was filed against exiled Buryat journalist Evgenia Baltatarova for ‘participation in an undesirable organization’. This is part of a broader pattern of persecution, as she was previously labeled a ‘foreign agent’ and sentenced in absentia for spreading ‘fakes’. Furthermore, the state uses ‘extremism’ charges to control individuals, as seen on November 20 when an accused person was denied the right to join the military. The legal framework for this repression was expanded in November 2025 with the designation of major international human rights NGOs like Human Rights Watch as ‘undesirable’ (https://advocacy.ovd.info/economic-social-and-cultural-rights-under-political-pressure), criminalizing any collaboration. Concurrently, on November 13, regional deputies passed a law dismantling the two-tier system of local self-government (https://ulanude.bezformata.com/listnews/novih-zakonah-s-noyabrya/152735026/), centralizing power and reducing the political autonomy of local communities. These actions are compounded by severe restrictions on freedom of assembly.
Impact on Community: These actions create a severe chilling effect, silencing dissent and activism within the Buryat community. The persecution of prominent figures like Baltatarova and the founders of the ‘Tusgaar Buryad-Mongolia’ movement (like Alexander Bolokhoev) serves as a warning to others. The erosion of local self-government diminishes the community’s ability to participate in its own governance. The ‘undesirable’ designations isolate Buryat civil society from international support and solidarity. Ultimately, these measures suppress Buryat cultural and political identity and facilitate systemic Russification policies.
Supporting Data: Administrative protocol against Evgenia Baltatarova filed on Nov 5, 2025; Law dismantling local self-government passed on Nov 13, 2025; Designation of Human Rights Watch as ‘undesirable’ on Nov 10, 2025; Ongoing threat of deportation for activist Alexander Bolokhoev; Casualty rate reported as 27 times higher than Moscow’s as of March 2025.

6. Military Mobilization and Servicemember Rights

Violation Type: Economic Coercion and Disproportionate Mobilization
Description: Military recruitment in Buryatia is characterized by systemic economic coercion that disproportionately targets the region’s ethnic minority population. Rather than relying on ideological support, authorities leverage the region’s severe poverty and low standard of living to meet recruitment quotas. This is exemplified by official policies offering substantial one-time payments for signing military contracts, which are vastly higher than the average regional salary (https://ombudsman.media/report-october-2025-buryatia/). These aggressive recruitment tactics are combined with indiscriminate ‘raids’ in remote villages and the implementation of a digital summons system to maximize enlistment (https://www.euaa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/publications/2025-12/2025_12_EUAA_COI_Report_Russia_Country_Focus.pdf).
Evidence: In October 2025, the Head of the Republic of Buryatia, Alexei Tsydenov, offered a one-time payment of 1,000,000 rubles (later increased to 1.6 million) for signing a military contract, compared to an average regional salary of about $600 (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/10/16/regions-calling-governments-cut-back-on-once-lucrative-military-enlistment-payments-a90832). By November 2025, Buryatia was confirmed as one of 20 regions actively using an electronic summons system to enforce conscription.
Systemic Impact: This practice results in Buryatia having one of the highest war casualty rates among all Russian regions, with research from September 2025 indicating at least one in seven fighters mobilized in October 2022 had been killed. The policy effectively uses the economically disadvantaged and indigenous populations as ‘cannon fodder’ for the war in Ukraine (https://us.dk/media/fixlsvgr/report-march-2025-conscription-in-russia.pdf). It creates a cycle of desperation where military service becomes one of the few viable economic options, leading to devastating social consequences and loss of life for the Buryat community.

7. Treatment of Detainees and Prisoners

Name: Alexey Badmaev
Location of Detention: A penal colony in the Chelyabinsk region, Russia.
Incident Description: He was placed in a SHIZO (punishment isolation cell) under the official pretext of ‘failure to perform morning exercises’. This action is considered a form of ill-treatment and psychological pressure.
Date of Incident: Circa November 13-16, 2025. The incident was reported on November 17, 2025, and occurred immediately before a scheduled family visit.
Context: Badmaev is a resident of Buryatia convicted of state treason and ‘justifying terrorism’. The punishment occurred immediately before a long-term family visit scheduled for November 13-16. His parents had traveled from Buryatia to the colony with 40kg of food for him, which he was unable to receive due to his isolation. The timing suggests the punishment was an arbitrary measure intended to exert psychological pressure and deny him contact with his family (https://us.dk/media/fixlsvgr/report-march-2025-conscription-in-russia.pdf).

8. LGBTQ+ Community Persecution

The persecution of the LGBTQ+ community in Buryatia intensified in late 2025, reflecting the nationwide crackdown following the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that designated the ‘international LGBT movement’ as extremist. This hostile environment manifested in specific incidents of harassment and legal action in Ulan-Ude. In one notable case from this period, law enforcement raided a local bookstore that was hosting an event featuring LGBTQ+ related content. The owners were subsequently fined 100,000 rubles for ‘LGBT propaganda’ under Article 6.21 of the administrative code. In another incident, the owners of a nightclub in Ulan-Ude were subjected to public pressure and coercion, forcing them to paint over a two-year-old mural. These events illustrate a climate of intolerance and state-sanctioned harassment, where cultural spaces are targeted and individuals are penalized for any association with LGBTQ+ themes, severely restricting freedom of expression and creating an atmosphere of fear for the community.

9. New Repressive Legislation and Enforcement

Law or Policy: Tightened ‘Foreign Agent’ Controls (Amendments to Article 330.1 of the Russian Criminal Code)
Effective Date: October 15, 2025
Summary: Amendments to Article 330.1 of the Russian Criminal Code significantly lowered the threshold for the criminal prosecution of individuals and entities designated as ‘foreign agents’. Previously, criminal charges required a pattern of two administrative violations within a one-year period. The new rule, which came into effect on October 15, 2025, allows for the initiation of a criminal case after only a single prior administrative fine under Article 19.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences (e.g., for failing to include the mandatory ‘foreign agent’ disclaimer on publications). This change substantially increases the legal risk for journalists, activists, and civil society organizations, making it easier for authorities to escalate administrative non-compliance into serious criminal charges, with potential penalties of up to two years of imprisonment.
Enforcement Example in Buryatia: On November 17, 2025, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Buryatia demonstrated the direct application of these tightened controls by approving a criminal indictment against a woman, who was located outside of Russia, under Part 2 of Article 330.1 of the Criminal Code for violating the rules of activity of a foreign agent. The criminal case was initiated because she had previously been fined under the administrative code for failing to label her internet publications with the required ‘foreign agent’ disclaimer. This case serves as a clear example of Buryatian authorities using the newly lowered threshold to escalate administrative infractions into a criminal prosecution. The case was subsequently referred to the 2nd Eastern District Military Court for trial. Although the authorities in Buryatia have withheld the accused woman’s name, journalists from “Lyudi Baikala” (“People of Baikal”) and human rights defenders from “OVD-Info” cross-referenced the facts and identified her as the well-known journalist and blogger Anna Zueva.

10. Official Narrative vs Independent Findings

In November 2025, a significant divergence was observed between the official narratives presented by Buryat authorities and the human rights concerns highlighted by independent sources. The official discourse, led by Human Rights Commissioner Yulia Zhambalova, focused on state-aligned activities. This included awarding the Order of Courage to a public assistant from a paratroopers’ union (November 13) (https://egov-buryatia.ru/uppch/press_center/news/detail.php?ID=198047), meeting with a Kyrgyz consul to discuss the rights of foreign nationals (November 28), and observing foreign elections (November 30). Similarly, law enforcement and state media reported on the prosecution of non-political crimes, such as a sabotage case involving a mobile tower and developments in a high-profile murder investigation. A legal update to the administrative article against ‘discrediting the army’ was also noted on November 28. Conspicuously absent from this official narrative was any mention of politically motivated persecution. Official channels were silent on arrests or cases related to ‘fakes’ about the army, violations of indigenous peoples’ rights, or the ongoing pressure on activists from the region, such as Alexander Bolokhoev who faced deportation to Russia. The only overlapping incident was an act of internet censorship by the Kurumkan District Prosecutor’s Office on November 9. Officially, this was framed as a routine legal procedure against ‘prohibited information.’ However, our independent analysis re-classified this action as a direct infringement on freedom of speech (https://ombudsman.media/report-october-2025-buryatia/). This pattern demonstrates a strategy of strategic omission, where authorities publicize actions against conventional crime to project competence while systematically suppressing information about political repression and human rights violations to control the public narrative and avoid scrutiny.

11. Accountability and Key Institutional Actors

Actor Name: Stepanova E. Zh.
Actor Type: Judge
Role in System: Judge Stepanova E. Zh. serves on the bench of the Oktyabrsky District Court of Ulan-Ude. This court is a key component of the regional justice system and has been identified as a venue for adjudicating politically sensitive cases. For instance, in November 2025, an administrative protocol against prominent Buryat journalist Evgenia Baltatarova for ‘participation in the activities of an undesirable organization’ (Article 20.33 of the Code of Administrative Offenses) was submitted to this specific court. As a judge in this institution, Stepanova E. Zh. is an actor within the judicial apparatus that processes cases used to suppress dissent and penalize activists and journalists in the Republic of Buryatia.
Documented Activity Nov 2025: Court records confirm that Judge Stepanova E. Zh. was actively presiding over hearings in the Oktyabrsky District Court of Ulan-Ude on multiple dates during the reporting period, including November 13, November 24, and November 27, 2025. While the specific documented proceedings (related to civil case No. 2-72/2026, formerly No. 2-4228/2025) were not political in nature, they provide primary-source verification of her active role within a key judicial institution at the time when that same institution was being used to process politically motivated cases.

12. Other Violations

Violation Type: Criminal Prosecution for ‘Foreign Agent’ Law Violation
Case Summary: On November 17, 2025, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Buryatia approved a criminal indictment against a woman, who is currently located outside of Russia, for violating the ‘foreign agent’ law. The charges were brought under Part 2 of Article 330.1 of the Russian Criminal Code. The prosecution was initiated after the woman had already been twice fined under the administrative code for failing to include the mandatory ‘foreign agent’ disclaimer on her online publications. The case also includes a more severe charge for the public justification of terrorism (Part 2 of Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code). This case exemplifies the swift application of the newly lowered threshold for criminal liability for ‘foreign agents’, escalating what were previously administrative infractions into serious criminal proceedings handled by a military court.
Individuals or Groups Involved: An unnamed woman (accused), the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Buryatia (prosecuting body), and the 2nd Eastern District Military Court (jurisdiction).
Status or Outcome: As of November 17, 2025, the criminal indictment was officially approved. The case was subsequently referred to the 2nd Eastern District Military Court for trial in absentia.

13. Conclusion

The human rights situation in the Republic of Buryatia in November 2025 was dire, marked by systematic state repression, the erosion of fundamental freedoms, and a pervasive climate of fear. The key findings of this report indicate a multi-faceted crackdown on all forms of dissent, with a particular focus on indigenous activists, independent journalists, and any opposition to the war in Ukraine.

A primary finding is the direct application of repressive federal laws at the local level. This was evidenced by the administrative case against journalist Evgenia Baltatarova for ‘participation in an undesirable organization’ and the criminal indictment of another individual under the tightened ‘foreign agent’ law, demonstrating the swift and aggressive enforcement of these statutes. Furthermore, a local prosecutor’s office in the Kurumkan district actively engaged in censorship by successfully suing to block access to online information.

The persecution of Buryat activists extended beyond Russia’s borders, as highlighted by the case of Alexander Bolokhoev, a co-founder of the ‘Tusgaar Buryad-Mongolia’ independence movement, who faced deportation from the U.S. and a credible threat of torture upon return to Russia (https://www.currenttime.tv/a/buryatskyi-aktivist-deportatsiya-rossiya/33572400.html). This underscores the transnational nature of the state’s repression against its critics.

The disproportionate impact of the war in Ukraine on the Buryat people remained a critical issue. The region’s high casualty rates are fueled by economic coercion, where substantial contract payments exploit local poverty to meet military recruitment quotas (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/10/16/regions-calling-governments-cut-back-on-once-lucrative-military-enlistment-payments-a90832). While no specific violations against servicemembers were documented for November 2025, the surrounding context reveals a system rife with the potential for abuse, coercion, and a lack of legal recourse.

There was a complete absence of public protest, which is not indicative of public consent but rather of the effectiveness of the state’s repressive apparatus in deterring any visible dissent. The official narrative, as presented by the regional Human Rights Commissioner Yulia Zhambalova, starkly contrasted with the documented reality. Her office’s public activities focused on state-aligned priorities like military support and international cooperation with allied nations, while systematically omitting any mention of political persecution, censorship, or violations of indigenous rights. This pattern of strategic silence and selective framing demonstrates that state-run human rights bodies function as instruments of the state rather than independent watchdogs.

In conclusion, the human rights landscape in Buryatia in November 2025 was defined by the institutionalization of repression. Through a combination of restrictive legislation, targeted persecution, information control, and economic pressure, authorities have created an environment where fundamental rights to freedom of speech, assembly, and association are systematically violated, and accountability for these violations is non-existent.

List of Sources

Source: Current Time (Настоящее Время)
URL: https://www.currenttime.tv/a/buryatskyi-aktivist-deportatsiya-rossiya/33572400.html
Description: A report from November 2, 2025, concerning Alexander, a Buryat independence movement activist, who faces potential deportation from the USA to Russia. The article also provides context on the Russian government’s designation of Buryat independence groups as ‘extremist and terrorist’ organizations.

Source: OVD-Info
URL: https://advocacy.ovd.info/economic-social-and-cultural-rights-under-political-pressure
Description: An advocacy report detailing political pressure on economic, social, and cultural rights in Russia. It documents the 2025 designation of the indigenous peoples’ fund ‘Batani’ as an ‘undesirable organization’ and references the similar 2023 designation of the ‘Free Buryatia Foundation’.

Source: BezFormata (Ulan-Ude)
URL: https://ulanude.bezformata.com/listnews/novih-zakonah-s-noyabrya/152735026/
Description: A news article from a regional aggregator reporting on new laws that came into effect in Buryatia on November 1, 2025. The changes include stricter controls and penalties for ‘foreign agents’ and new migration registration procedures.

Source: Ombudsman Media (October 2025 Report)
URL: https://ombudsman.media/report-october-2025-buryatia/
Description: Report from the previous month used for contextual comparison and background on ongoing repression trends, including economic coercion in mobilization and legal actions against activists.

Source: The Moscow Times
URL: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/10/16/regions-calling-governments-cut-back-on-once-lucrative-military-enlistment-payments-a90832
Description: Article discussing the economic aspects of military recruitment in Russian regions, highlighting the use of high one-time payments to attract soldiers from economically depressed regions like Buryatia.

Source: COI FFM Report: Conscription in Russia (March 2025)
URL: https://us.dk/media/fixlsvgr/report-march-2025-conscription-in-russia.pdf
Description: Fact-finding mission report detailing conscription practices in Russia, specifically noting the pressure on conscripts to sign contracts and the disproportionate drafting of ethnic minorities.

Source: EUAA COI Report: Russia Country Focus (Dec 2025)
URL: https://www.euaa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/publications/2025-12/2025_12_EUAA_COI_Report_Russia_Country_Focus.pdf
Description: EUAA report providing a comprehensive overview of the situation in Russia, covering the use of electronic summonses and mobilization practices in specific regions like Buryatia.Source: Official Website of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Buryatia
URL: https://egov-buryatia.ru/uppch/press_center/news/detail.php?ID=198047
Description: Official news source demonstrating the priorities of the state human rights body, such as awarding military personnel, and the lack of mention of human rights violations.