Back in January, Bashkortostan saw some of the largest protests in Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The protesters rallied to show support for prominent Bashkort activist Fayil Alsynov, who was on trial for allegedly “inciting ethnic hatred.” The demonstrations began outside of the courthouse in the town of Baymak, where Alsynov was sentenced, and then spread to the regional center of Ufa. Russia’s top investigative authority immediately launched a criminal case in response to the demonstrations and began arresting dozens of activists and protesters on charges of “mass rioting.”