A veteran of the Tatar national movement is facing a request for two and a half years in a penal colony.

The prosecution has requested that 74-year-old Tatar national movement activist Zinnur Agliullin be sentenced to two and a half years in a general regime penal colony over the case concerning the “The Aksakals Speak” video broadcast. This was reported on the website titled “Government of Independent Tatarstan.”

Agliullin is on trial for repeated incitement of hatred and enmity (Part 1, Article 282 of the Criminal Code). The reason for the prosecution was the “The Aksakals Speak” video broadcast in a Telegram chat, where, according to investigators, Agliullin discussed interethnic relations in Russia. In the video, for instance, he compares ethnic Russians to “overseers” in prison, says that Russian people “only recognise force,” and that “Russia cannot be Russia unless it oppresses other peoples, unless it takes—how to put it—unless it seizes their lands and resources.” In the stream, the man also recounts experiencing injustice as a child, which led him to become a nationalist. He suggests constantly using the Tatar language in everyday life and condemns Tatars who have become russified.

A search of Agliullin’s home as part of this criminal case was carried out in September 2024. In May, he was also searched; at that time, he was questioned over posts about drone attacks on Tatarstan, and his phone was confiscated.

• In autumn 2023, the activist was fined 16,000 roubles (US$180) for inciting hatred (Article 20.3.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences) over criticism of the republic’s leadership. At the time, Agliullin stated that Tatarstan Presidents Mintimer Shaimiev and Rustam Minnikhanov had personally profited financially by threatening Moscow with the Tatar national movement.