In Ufa, law enforcement officers conducted searches at the homes of activists and a journalist.

In Ufa, security forces conducted raids at the homes of journalist Natalya Lazarycheva, human rights defender Gulnara Khusniyarova, and activists Guzel Reiter, Elvira Sagadeeva, and Tamara Akhmetzhanova. This was reported by the “Razoblacheno” channel and Altai activist Aruna Arna.

All five women are currently believed to be undergoing questioning at the Investigative Committee. The exact charges remain unknown.

Sagadeeva recorded a video in the stairwell showing plainclothes officers removing belongings from her flat—masked individuals used a sledgehammer and crowbar to enter. Searches were conducted both at Akhmetzhanova’s city flat and her country house. According to the channel, Reiter’s home had its windows smashed, and her child was “driven to hysteria.” Security forces confiscated all electronic devices from both the mother and child, including two phones.

Guzel Reiter is known locally for protests against gold mining companies, Gulnara Khusniyarova previously defended Arna in court, and Natalya Lazarycheva identifies as an independent journalist, running both a YouTube and a Telegram channel.

18 September The activists are considered members of the “Volya” party, founded by conspiracy theorist Svetlana Lada-Rus, reports the “Opersvodki RB” Telegram channel.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated against Natalya Lazarycheva under articles related to the rehabilitation of Nazism (Part 4, Article 354.1 of the Criminal Code) and knowingly false reporting of a terrorist act (Part 3, Article 207 of the Criminal Code).

The “Razoblacheno” channel wrote that the activists “raised pressing issues in agriculture, opposed the introduction of the digital rouble, spoke out about the destruction of the education and healthcare systems, addressed environmental concerns in Bashkortostan, and defended Kushtau.”

19 September Natalya Lazarycheva was remanded in custody for two months on charges of rehabilitation of Nazism (Part 4, Article 354.1 of the Criminal Code) and knowingly false reporting of a terrorist act (Part 3, Article 207 of the Criminal Code), reports Idel.Realii.

According to the outlet, in summer 2024 Lazarycheva published a post on her Telegram channel criticising commemorative events for the Day of Remembrance on 22 June. Later that year, she posted messages about “nuclear strikes on cities in Bashkiria.” These publications became grounds for the charges.