"Violent Clashes Erupt as Russian Activist is Jailed, Sparking Mass Protests"

Russian riot police clashed with protesters in Bashkortostan after a rights activist, Fail Alsynov, was sentenced to four years in a penal colony for inciting ethnic hatred, a charge he denies. The demonstrations, near the border with Kazakhstan, resulted in injuries, arrests, and an investigation into "mass rioting" with potential 15-year prison sentences. Alsynov's supporters claim the charges are delayed revenge for his activism, and he intends to appeal the verdict. The activist has been critical of military mobilization and advocated for the preservation of the ethnic identity of the Bashkir people.