"Violent Clashes Erupt in Russia as Activist is Jailed, Putin Observes Unrest"
Thousands of protesters clashed with police in south-central Russia after an indigenous rights activist, Fayil Alsynov, was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of inciting ethnic hatred. The protest in Baymak, near the Kazakh border, defied police warnings and a ban on unauthorized gatherings, resulting in dozens of arrests and clashes with security forces. Alsynov, known for his successful campaign against limestone mining on sacred land, was imprisoned after speaking out against illegal gold mining, leading to accusations of insulting workers from the Caucasus and Central Asia. The protests are seen as a challenge to the Kremlin and Governor Radiy Khabirov's control over Bashkortostan, with several protesters now facing up to 15 years in jail for "mass rioting."