Monthly Report on Human Rights violations in the Altay Republic
September 2025
Deputy Arzham Achimov was dismissed from his job as punishment for his position
On September 4, Arzhan Achimov, a deputy of the Onguday District Council, was forced to resign from the Onguday Forest public organization, where he served as a site manager. Arzhan Achimov became a deputy of the Onguday Rural Settlement Council as an independent candidate back in 2013 and was elected to the district council in 2023.
On September 3, the deputy was the only one to vote against amendments to the district charter eliminating the lower level of self-government. Previously, on August 22, similar amendments failed to pass because more deputies voted against them, and then, during the re-election a week later, they somehow reversed their votes, presumably due to pressure exerted on them. The dismissal from Ongudai Les was justified by a demand (“call”) from the Ministry of Natural Resources. Essentially, the deputy was punished for his political activities in the interests of his people, “precisely because of Achimov’s vote at the recent extraordinary session against amendments to the charter of the Ongudai District, which allow for a single-tier system of local self-government to be ‘pushed through’ against the will of the people,” according to a local resident.
https://vk.com/wall867117613_18931?reply=19126
Numerous violations in local elections: evidence
Numerous violations were recorded during the September elections and by-elections to local councils. One independent candidate filed a complaint, spoke about it in a video, and provided extensive evidence:
https://t.me/horizontal_russia/49475
However, the election results have not yet been cancelled.
The persecution of active Altai locals who oppose reforms that destroy village councils continues
The home of Aruna Arna, who consistently spoke out against the forced changes to the Altai Constitution that contradict the will of the people and who collected thousands of signatures calling for the resignation of Putin-appointed head of Altai, Turchak, was illegally searched without a court order: https://t.me/aruna_altayleader/5827
https://t.me/aruna_altayleader/5835
“Security forces burst into the home of a mother of many children, holding a baby in her arms, early in the morning and broke down the door! Why such cruelty?! An act of intimidation, or revenge for her active citizenship and love for her homeland?!”
https://t.me/sohranim_altai/707
The activist and her family had absolutely all their money, bank cards, and phones confiscated. However, no search warrant was provided. Notably, illegal searches without court orders, and the illegal confiscation of absolutely all money, cards, and phones, were also carried out on the activist’s mother, and also, for some reason, on the witness in the case, Evgenia Tokorokova:
https://t.me/aruna_altayleader/5837
On September 25, the court banned Aruna Arna from using the internet, using her phone, being at train stations, and attending public events: https://t.me/horizontal_russia/49725
A criminal case was also opened against the activist under Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for incitement to terrorism, and a report was drawn up for holding an unauthorized event.
https://t.me/horizontal_russia/49838
https://ovd.info/express-news/2025/09/24/k-altayskim-aktivistkam-prishli-s-obyskami-0?utm_source=google.com&utm_medium=organic&utm_term=(not%20set
The “missing” of the vote’s individual results on the municipal reform bill
The El Kurultai (parliament) of the Altai Republic refused to provide and publish the individual votes on the municipal reform bill, which was the subject of massive public protests. Justifying the violations as “technical glitches,” the deputies also decided to hold a vote, refusing to conduct an investigation into the violations.