Russian riot police fired tear gas and hit protesters with batons in Bashkortostan on Wednesday after a rights activist was sentenced to four years in a penal colony. Footage showed supporters of Fail Alsynov clashing with police – some throwing snowballs – near the court.
Alsynov was jailed for inciting ethnic hatred, which he denies.
The trial, and protests, took place in Baymak in southern Russia, near the border with Kazakhstan.
Authorities have opened a investigation against some of those demonstrating under “mass rioting” charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Some reports say there were a few thousand people at the demonstration, which went on for several days in temperatures of around -20C.
Protesters were seen shouting their support for Alsynov, and there are reports that some tried to block the courthouse entrance after the sentence was announced.
Credit: bbc.com
