Monthly Report on Human Rights violations in the Altay Republic
In October 2025, the human rights situation in the Altai Republic deteriorated further. Persecution of civil society activists continued and worsened, authorities reported participants in a meeting with parliamentarians to the police, the Russian Ministry of Finance proposed establishing a gambling zone in the Altai Republic, the “Baialtai” forum discussed the seizure of land from individuals and organizations “for state needs,” and residents’ homes were supplied with green water.
Protests against the destruction of local self-government in the Altai Republic
On October 5, 2025, a meeting was held in the Shebalinsky District between deputies and Altai residents who continue to protest against the “reform” that is destroying local self-government. The meeting took place outdoors; no meeting space was provided. More than 150 people attended.
https://t.me/horizontal_russia/49958
On October 14, one of the organizers of the meeting with deputies, Vasily Kurdimekov, reported being summoned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs “to provide an explanation for his participation in the meeting,” including a demand to identify which residents spoke. https://t.me/kudirmek/2336
According to “Horizontal Russia,” district administration officials filed a police report regarding the meeting between residents and their deputies: https://t.me/horizontal_russia/50183
The pressure exerted on residents is a gross violation of the Russian Federation’s obligations under Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Persecution of Civil Activists
Aruna Arna
On October 7, the activist was fined 20,000 rubles “for organizing an unauthorized rally” due to the fact that people came to support her at the courthouse, which violates both the right to peaceful assembly (ICCPR) and the right to a fair trial.
https://t.me/horizontal_russia/50007
Moreover, during an illegal search on September 24, authorities confiscated all of Aruna’s money, bank cards, and phones, as well as all members of her family, without a court order or protocol. Subsequently, on October 10, Aruna Arna was sent to pretrial detention. https://t.me/horizontal_russia/50082
Dmitry Todoshev
On October 20, an Altai lawyer who opposes the “reform” of eliminating local self-government was charged under Part 2 of Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses for holding an unauthorized rally due to hundreds of people who gathered in support of him outside the Supreme Court of the Altai Republic in August. https://ovd.info/express-news/2025/10/21/na-altayskogo-yurista-sostavili-protokol-o-mitinge-iz-za-togo-chto-lyudi?utm_source=google.com&utm_medium=organic&utm_term=(not%20set)
Russian Government Plans for the Lands of the Altai Republic
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Finance proposed adding the Altai Republic to the list of territories eligible for the establishment of gambling zones. According to the published draft law, the territories of annexed Crimea and the Altai Republic have now been added to the territories of the Altai Krai, Primorsky Krai, Krasnodar Krai, and Kaliningrad Oblast. https://regulation.gov.ru/projects/161238/
Concurrently with this event, discussions on the seizure of land from individuals and organizations “for state needs” took place at the “Baialtai” forum. https://t.me/PastuhovGA/1081
According to local residents, the current events are closely linked to the destruction of local self-government in the Republic and are aimed at the illegal seizure of land and resources from the local population for the benefit of “major players” and the oligarchy. Such actions violate Article 1 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Violation of drinking water quality standards
On October 23, several complaints were received from residents of the Altai Republic regarding poor-quality, poisonous green drinking water. As a reminder, the supply of unsafe drinking water is a violation of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 64/292.
https://t.me/PastuhovGA/1088
