"Russian Police Disperse Rare Protest Against Activist's Jailing"

Riot police in the Russian republic of Bashkortostan clashed with protesters after a leading local rights activist, Fail Alsynov, was sentenced to four years in a penal colony for inciting ethnic hatred. The rare protest, which drew a crowd of several thousand people, resulted in arrests and criminal investigations into "mass disturbances" and violence against authorities. Alsynov's supporters believe the case against him is delayed revenge for his role in previous protests, and his name has been added to a list of "extremists and terrorists." The timing of the protest is sensitive for the authorities as President Vladimir Putin seeks a new term, and the regional head faces pressure to handle the situation to avoid embarrassment for the Kremlin.