"Escalating Protests Rock Remote Russian Region Against Kremlin Crackdown"

Anti-Kremlin protests have erupted in the remote region of Bashkortostan, Russia, following the imprisonment of activist Fail Alsynov. Russian police have arrested 45 people, and clashes between protesters and law enforcement have resulted in injuries. The protests, which have spread to the capital Ufa, are a sign of growing resentment towards the government, exacerbated by the invasion of Ukraine and mobilization of men into the army. These demonstrations pose a challenge to Vladimir Putin's efforts to showcase popular support for the war ahead of the upcoming presidential election.