First defendant in Baymak case sentenced to 5 years in penal colony
Ilshat Ulyabayev was accused of participating in a rally near the Baymaksky City Court on January 17. Investigators alleged that he caused harm to a member of the security forces, which was classified as minor bodily harm.
During the hearing on June 21, Ulyabayev admitted his guilt and apologized to the police officers who dispersed the rally. He stated that he had arrived at the square by chance and decided to support the environmental activist Fail Alsynov.
The Baymak case was initiated following mass protests in Baymak and Ufa related to Fail Alsynov's verdict. The environmental activist was sentenced to 4 years in a penal colony for inciting hatred due to a speech he gave at a gathering against gold miners. The case involves over 80 defendants, who are accused of participating in the mass riots.
It is believed that the trials of the Baymak case defendants are being relocated to other regions to avoid further protests. According to the Aspects media outlet, courts have received cases associated with at least 17 defendants. The largest group, consisting of 10 individuals, is being tried in Izhevsk, with 5 more in Tolyatti, and 1 each in Orenburg and Orsk.