In Bashkortostan, a people's gathering took place in defense of the Irandyk ridge from gold miners, 20 May 2023

[Summary translation prepared by Business and Human Rights Resource Centre]

In the village of Temyasovo, Baimaksky district of the Republic of Bashkortostan, a people's gathering, agreed with the authorities, was held to protect the Irandyk ridge from gold miners...

The participants protested against what they called "the barbaric methods of mining in the Republic of Bashkortostan."...

The participants voted against the development of the Irandyk mountain range. They also demanded that the legislation be changed so that the use of subsoil would be possible only with the approval of the local people's gathering. Speakers have repeatedly associated the issue of subsoil extraction with the occurrence of cancer in the local population.

"The thing is that the land in the unique area began to be massively sold along with the river for the extraction of various minerals. Barbaric mining methods will simply destroy the local nature. Activists are calling for a people's gathering "to prevent Kushtau-2." Local residents are so angry that they are even going to launch a website with a board of shame: "We will hang photos of those MPs who will vote for the development of Irandyk. Let your descendants see you, the enemies of your people!”, warned the local activists prior the gathering.