 (1).png){kind=spacer}
5 hours ago
1
Law enforcement authorities in Siberia’s republic of Altai said Wednesday that they arrested a local activist suspected of publicly inciting terrorism, a move that comes amid a wider crackdown against opponents of controversial municipal reforms.
The local branch of Russia’s Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said it placed a “moderator of a public group on Telegram” in temporary detention. The agency said it would seek a court order for pre-trial custody.
Though officials did not name the person, local activists identified her as Aruna Arna, a prominent figure in protests against a Kremlin-backed governance overhaul and the expansion of Moscow-owned businesses in the republic.
State financial watchdog Rosfinmonitoring added Arna to its federal register of “terrorists and extremists” last month.
Arna shared on social media the first few seconds of a police search at her home on Wednesday. In the video, police could be seen forcing their way into her apartment and shouting at the people inside to lie on the floor.
In a separate video, her mother claimed that armed riot police had seized money and personal electronics and taken her daughter away while leaving behind three children, including an infant.
Searches were also reported at the homes of other activists and that of Arna’s mother.
Fellow activists told independent media that Arna had been planning to travel to Moscow on the day of her arrest to deliver signatures demanding the resignation of Altai’s head Andrei Turchak.
Protests against Turchak have roiled the region since the controversial municipal reforms were introduced this summer.
The reforms merged many rural districts into larger, more consolidated districts, where a number of elections took place earlier this month.
Critics say the overhaul strips residents of local political representation and hands Moscow tighter control over regional government.
In August, the Altai Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit challenging the municipal reform passed by the regional parliament, sparking large protests in the capital city of Gorno-Altaysk.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Continue
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.
