Hundreds – and possibly thousands – of Alsynov’s supporters initially gathered in front of the courthouse on Monday when closing arguments were delivered in the case. The Russian independent news outlet Agentstvo reported that it was one of the biggest protests in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, which has brought about more restrictive laws and an intensified crackdown on dissent.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Hundreds of protesters have clashed with police in the Russian republic of Bashkortostan in a rare display of public outrage after a court convicted a local activist and sentenced him to prison, according to media reports and rights groups.
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.
The Russian independent news outlet Agentstvo reported that it was one of the biggest protests in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, which has brought about more restrictive laws and an intensified crackdown on dissent.
Russia’s top law enforcement agency, the Investigative Committee, said it had opened a criminal case on the charges of fomenting mass riots and assaulting police officers.
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