Baymak, Siberia

In a town of 17,710 people, 10,000 came out to protest the sentencing of an anti-war activist.

The protesters were armed with snowballs. The goon squad was armed to the teeth.

The unrest on Wednesday – one of the largest reported demonstrations since the war in Ukraine began in 2022 – erupted amid the trial this week of Fail Alsynov in the town of Baymak, about 870 miles (1,400km) south-east of Moscow, in the southern Ural mountains.

Several thousand people had gathered outside the courthouse to support Alsynov, who was convicted of inciting hatred and sentenced to four years in prison, according to OVD-Info, a Russian rights group that tracks political arrests and offers legal aid.

Police used teargas and batons to disperse the crowd, which chanted: “Fail, we stand with you!” along with “Freedom!” and “Disgrace!” They demanded the ousting of Bashkortostan’s governor and hurled snowballs at officers, OVD-Info and local media reported. Dozens of people were detained and injured, OVD-Info said. – The Guardian

Jake Broe Weighs In

Honorary Friend of WLBOTT Jake Broe covered the recent protest in Baymak, Siberia. “This could be the beginning of something bigger.”

Baymak: The Land, The People, The Culture

After a day of crushing counter-revolutionaries armed with snowballs, where can you grab a meal? Cafe Respublika!

Disgusting cafe, the waiter did not introduce himself and walks around without an apron, did not say the waiting time, the dish did not correspond to the menu, croutons were served with hair, there are no napkins, no salt, no pepper on the table, the tablecloths are dirty. Not a cafe, but a parody of it. Far away to a normal establishment.
Comrade Arina A 953