Thousands Of People Join Protest In Bashkortostan

They protest against issuing licenses to gold miners.

A correspondent of kasparov.ru, citing activist Shamil Abdullin, reported on 22 May that at least five thousand people came out to protest against licenses to gold miners to explore and develop the Irendyk mountain range in the village of Temyasovo in Bashkortostan's Baimak district.

Locals believe the license violates subsoil use regulations.

The activists appealed to Vladimir Putin and Konstantin Tolkachev, chairman of the Kurultai of Bashkortostan, to investigate the actions of the authorities. The activists say that gold mining companies in the area are operating with violations. Previously, the company Tanalyk was fined several hundred million rubles; Grafskoye may lose its license. The Prosecutor's Office accused Vesna of violating subsoil use regulations. Early in May, Alexander Bastrykin, Chairman of the Investigative Committee, instructed to look into the conflict between the citizens and the gold mining companies.

The action was coordinated with the authorities; both local residents and government representatives spoke at the rally. The residents are concerned that the geological prospecting and exploration will subsequently lead to a mining licence and the destruction of the Irendyk mountain range, with its unique nature and monuments.

Niyaz Fazilov, Bashkortostan's Minister of Ecology and Nature Management, stated that no mining would take place. He points out that Bashkortostan is rich in minerals, one of which is manganese, a strategic element. But people didn't believe his words and promised to monitor the situation closely.