Protesters In Ufa Encircle Bus With Detainees Fighting Them Back

Clashes between the protesters and Russian security forces have begun.

Clashes between protesters and police have started near the monument to Salavat Yulaev in the capital of Bashkortostan, Ufa, reports the correspondent of "Important Stories". In total, about 1.5 thousand people came out to the rally.

The Russian law enforcers detained a man wrapped in the flag of Bashkortostan at the rally in Ufa.

Three other detainees are also seen in the paddy-wagon where the man has been driven.

RusNews reports that people have encircled the paddy-wagon and are not allowing to take them away. Ufa residents are demanding to open the bus and release those detained at the rally.

The people encircled the bus with the detainees, shouts of "Shame!" and "We will not give them to you!" are heard.

The rally site has been cordoned off by Russian security forces since the morning. The police warned those gathered about responsibility for taking part in an "unauthorised event". The people answered to the claims of the uniformed officers that they "have came to see the monument". In addition, the law enforcers were called upon to speak Bashkir.

After a while, the protest turned into "folk festivities": the people on the square started singing Bashkir folk songs and dancing round dances.

According to media reports, at least four people were detained during the rally, including an activist with a sign reading "kara khalyk" ("black people" - a phrase from Fail Alsynov's speech, which the forensic examination found offensive).

On January 17, the court in Bashkortostan sentenced Fail Alsynov, ex-head of the Bashkort organisation banned in Russia, to four years in prison. After the verdict, more than 10,000 residents of the republic came out to the courthouse.