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In villages in Novosibirsk region, several local residents dissatisfied with the removal of cows and bulls from private farms since February have been detained. The animals are being euthanised and incinerated.
- How officials explained the mass euthanasia of livestock
The authorities explained their actions by citing outbreaks of pasteurellosis and rabies. Since the start of the year, 42 rabies outbreaks have been recorded in the region. In five districts, quarantine has been imposed. The local Ministry of Agriculture links the increase in disease to the heavy snowfall: according to officials, a shortage of food is forcing wild animals to venture closer to residential areas, infecting unvaccinated domestic livestock.
According to Baza, around two thousand animals have been euthanised in just two of the districts.
Local residents say the animals are being taken away with police involvement, and people who try to intervene are threatened.
Farmers are refused information about the specific disease the authorities plan to use as grounds for the cull. Officials refer to an order from the governor marked “for official use only.”
However, pasteurellosis is treated with antibiotics and does not require mandatory euthanasia. Sources in the farming sector cited by Kommersant fear that the real issue may be the more dangerous disease, foot and mouth.
The regional Ministry of Agriculture has promised farmers compensation—170 roubles (about US$2) per kilogram of livestock.
- Protests
On 8 March, residents of Kozikha, which is also under quarantine, recorded a video address. They said the cows had no symptoms of disease and the farmers would not allow them to be killed. Local women noted that there is no work in the village and they survive solely on household farming. “We won’t let anyone in,” one woman said. “Then you can burn us together with the cows,” added another.
On 9 and 10 March, Kozikha villagers blocked the road to the machinery intending to dig a burial pit. Some protesters brought icons. Police officers arrived at the scene. One local resident was detained but soon released. Residents of neighbouring Berezovka came to support the protesters.
In the villages of Novoklyuchi and Lukoshino, local residents also prevented tractors from passing to take the animals away.
On 11 March in Novopichugovo, residents also tried to block the vehicles collecting cows. Police told those gathered that they were taking part in an “unauthorised event.” Farmers could not stop the killing of the animals, and two men and a woman were detained. According to local human rights advocate Anna Tazheeva, the men are facing charges of disobeying the police (Article 19.3 of the Administrative Offences Code).
During the afternoon of 12 March, “Novosibirsk Life” reported that about 30 police vehicles were heading to Novoklyuchi. Law enforcement officers with shields cordoned off one farm where livestock were being euthanised. Later, Mash Siberia reported the detention of a local resident filming police and veterinary officers.
“Agentstvo” notes that the last major farmers' protests were ten years ago, in 2016, in Krasnodar, a large city in southern Russia. On that occasion, farmers drove tractors to Moscow to draw attention to corruption and land seizures in the region. They were detained in Rostov region.
- Authorities’ response
The Ministry of Agriculture in Novosibirsk region threatened protesters with administrative and criminal prosecution. The ministry later promised additional payments to farmers.
The regional Interior Ministry announced checks into “breaches of public order” due to the protests in the villages. In addition, protesters who travelled to Novosibirsk to submit a collective complaint to the Investigative Committee and prosecutors were issued with police summons.
The Investigative Committee in turn launched an investigation into staff at the regional Ministry of Agriculture for possible negligence.
The brother of a Kozikha resident who took part in the protests spoke of threats from the head of the village council: “She phoned my sister and warned her that she works at the school, she’s a public sector employee, and [head of Ordynsky district Oleg] Oryol is her direct boss, and whether she’s worried about her job.”
On 12 March in Novosibirsk, police detained Ivan Frolov, a journalist with “People’s Television of Siberia,” who was covering the protests. The journalist said that investigators had begun a probe under the article on knowingly spreading false information about circumstances posing a threat to life and safety (Article 207.1 of the Criminal Code) because of his report on the seizure of domestic livestock in one of the villages.