Protests against Putin's rule begin in Siberia: Repression machine is launched in Altai Republic

[Starmix]

According to the report, 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. In the video, police could be seen forcing their way into her apartment and shouting at the people inside to lie on the floor. I

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 controversial municipal reforms were passed this summer. The reforms merged many rural districts into larger, more consolidated districts, where a number of elections took place earlier this month.

 

[gwolf666]

The arrest of Aruna Arna in Altai reflects the growing tension between authorities and opponents of municipal reforms in the region. Arna, an activist known for her participation in protests against the expansion of Moscow-controlled businesses and changes in local governance, was reportedly arrested on suspicion of inciting terrorism for her social media activity. This comes as part of a broader crackdown on government critics, highlighting the climate of control over dissent.

Videos shared by Arna show police forcibly entering her home, raising concerns among activists and the public about the severity of the measures taken. Rosfinmonitoring's inclusion of Arna in the federal register of "terrorists and extremists" underscores how authorities use legal tools to limit protest and activism.

This case also highlights the importance of civic organization and citizen participation, as Arna planned to deliver signatures in Moscow demanding the resignation of Andrei Turchak. The situation raises a debate about the balance between security, state control, and freedom of expression in the context of controversial political changes.

 

[Starmix]

I can't blame that activist. She and other Russians felt suffocated about the devastating effects of war. Millions of soldiers died in the war, infrastructures, oil refineries, and essential resources for their country's survival were all damaged by Ukraine, yet, Putin remained frigid.