In Russia’s Bashkortostan, Fresh Tensions Grow Over Planned Copper Mining Site

Public discontent is brewing in the Republic of Bashkortostan de Russia in a plan backed by the government to develop mining copper deposits in the Kryttytau mountain range.

The new tensions occur after Bashkortostan, a republic in the Volka -oal region of Russia, was crushed For protests and sweep answers Inparalized for Russia in times of war last year.

While loyal politicians and bloggers fight a campaign to promote the supposed benefits of copper mining for the regional economy, the premises seem ready to risk repression and judgments to protect their performing indigenous lands from irreversible ecological damage.

The Kryttytau mountain range 60 kilometers long long is widely known by its name of Bashkir Qyrqty-tau-ees located in the districts of the East of Abzelilovsky and Beloretsky of Bashkorttostan.

Part of the Ural Mountains, the Kryttytau mountain range is located along the banks of the Bolshoi Kizil River (Olo Kyzyl), forming a picturesque landscape that makes the scope and its environment one of the most attractive places for outdoor tourism.

Rich in copper deposits, the range has been observed for a long time for the development of the Russian Copper Company (RCC). The mining giant is owned by That is found in Forbes Multimillionaire Igor Altushkin, which is in the west sanctions For helping Russia’s invasion to Ukraine.

RCC rumors or plans for copper extraction in Krytytau initially Splashed In the media in February 2019, causing an audience request Asking President Vladimir Putin to stop the project and amend the federal level law on mineral extraction licenses.

Environmental activist Eduard Kadyrov, who launched the petition that received more than 7,000 signatures. warned That mining works in Kryttytau could bring toxic waste to the Bolshoy Kizil and Maly Kizil rivers, which supply drinking water to the nearby city of Sibay and the Magnitogorsk industrial center.

Kadyrov also warned that mining could contaminate the near Lake Yaktykul, one of Bashkortostan’s main tourist attractions and a designated natural monument.

RCC plans were apparently suspended after a 3,000 force protest In the capital of the district of Abzelilovsky, Askarov defense The sacred mountain Kushtau of an extractivist company.

But in April of this year, Salavatskoe, an entity linked to RRC, confirm That the company obtained a license for the exploration and production of minerals in Kryttytau, near the rural settlement of Salavat-Sovkhoz.

In Video address Published on the Vkontakt page of Salavatskoe, the head of the company Taghtigareev said that the preparations and the final approval of the mining works could take “several years” and would require “presenting the final works plan to the residents and celebrating public anarizations.”

“Important: the license was granted by federal authorities. Any attempt to address the Government of the Republic [about this project would equate to] Making it politician, “Bakhtigareev warned, promising to” develop a project that meets the strictest environmental standards. “

Bakhtigareev also dismissed the warnings of the environmental activists of the irreversible contamination of the river as “unfounded”, referring to the previous experience of the company that performs similar projects in the neighboring regions of Chelyabinsk, one of the most in the country.

His promises did little to placate the growing discontent among the residents of the Abzelilovsky district and prominent activists of environmental and indigenous rights, who believe that mining works should begin to be a way rather than the company’s promises.

“Either perfect [in meeting ecological standards] Or no … we just don’t need … a mine. We need nature, we need health, ”a local woman from the people of Buren saying In a public meeting between residents and representatives of Solovatskoe on Monday.

His speech caused strong applause from other residents.

“I understand that this meeting is a formality. I know that everyone who comes here and speaks will be harassed [by the authorities]”Another local woman said in a passionate speech pronounced in Bashkir’s indigenous language.

“I only have one question: do you have so much thirst for money that this country is he Thing you need? Are you not afraid of being cursed by the people you plan to damage? “He added, drawing another round of applause.

The fears of the “harassment” locals by the authorities are not unfounded.

Last year’s protests in support or indigenous activist Fayil Alynov, whose prison wax bound To the campaign against gold mining in the same area of ​​Bashkortostan, it caused the greatest political trial in modern Russian history.

Accompanied by a Generalized smear campaign Against activists and supporters, the trial of more than 80 men and women of Bashkir in the so -called “Baymak case” Unleashed fear Among many of the residents of the Republic, which incorporates the authorities to recover very unpopular plans to develop Kryttytau.

Some Kryttytau defenders are already feeling the pressure.

The founder of one of the most popular online communities in defense of the Mountain Mountain was reportedCiting information published in the group.

“[The authorities] It seems to have discovered that there are a lot of people [in this group]And for them this is a potential danger: they are afraid that all this is in a child of ‘uprising’ “, Idel.realii cited a position in the closed group as he said.

Thursday, activists announced The cancellation of the planned protests in defense of Kryttytau with appointing an official reason for the decision. At least 300 people were expected to attend the demonstration near the villages of Kazmashevo and Amangildino in the district of Abzelilovsky.

While last year’s protests in support of Asynov saw a wide range of public figures that join to face the authorities, in the case of Krytytau, the government and the developers that appear have been in front of local local on the side of the traction.

“The Russian Copper Company … Skillly accumulates public support for its activities,” popular political pundit Baybulatov saying In a telegram post.

“Even you, dear subscribers, environmental defenders [and other] The worried citizens of Bashkortostan are becoming accomplices in this public relations campaign that I like, comment and publish again [content promoting the mining project]”He added, referring to a strip of videos of the popular Bashkir bloggers that promote the economic benefits of copper mining.

Although most experts agree that the Eastern districts of Bashkortostan suffer from economic underdevelopment and poverty, many believe that a prosperous future could be achieved without the mining business.

“For several decades, private companies have been extracting natural resources in the Urales of Bashkortostan in a predatory manner, leaving behind 2 billion tons of mining waste, rivers and land contaminated with heavy metals and open wells not demanded, the ‘wounds of the earth’, ecologist Alejandro Veseloveloveloveloves written In Vkontakte.

“At the same time, this part of the Republic remains economically depressed, almost without industrial development beyond the extraction of minerals,” he added. “So, perhaps what the Bashkortostan Ural Region really needs is a government program for land rehabilitation, instead of the new open well mines.”