{"id":32430,"date":"2026-07-10T23:39:51","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T21:39:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osmstatecnych.cz\/we-are-the-black-folk\/"},"modified":"2026-07-26T20:23:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T18:23:07","slug":"we-are-the-black-folk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osmstatecnych.cz\/en\/we-are-the-black-folk\/","title":{"rendered":"We Are the Black Folk"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The resistance movement is gaining strength in Bashkortostan.<\/span><\/h2>

A recent large-scale nocturnal fire<\/a> at the IntekChim oil depot in the Bashkir village of Kandry demonstrates a further stage in the escalation of resistance in Bashkortostan. The fire destroyed eight out of ten 100-ton storage tanks containing petroleum products, dealing a significant financial and logistical blow to the regional fuel infrastructure, which processes hundreds of tons of hydrocarbons daily. <\/span><\/p>

Authorities led by Radiy Khabirov attempted to explain the incident as an “accidental truck fire,” but local residents speak of a coordinated sabotage action. If this was indeed the case, the attack marks a further shift of the Bashkir resistance from civil protest to systematic strikes against the regime’s economic foundations. <\/span><\/p>

This development fits into a broader transformation of the situation in the republic. The suppression of the peaceful protest movement following the sentencing of Fail Alsynov and the brutal crackdown on subsequent demonstrations in 2024 effectively closed the space for legal civil resistance. In its place, partisan groups have gradually emerged, including the We Are the Black\/Common Folk<\/strong><\/a> movement – <\/span>Be\u0499 \u2014 \u04a1ara \u0445\u0430\u043b\u044b\u04a1<\/strong>, which openly claims responsibility for direct actions.<\/span><\/p>

This very organization has now also claimed responsibility for the attack on linguist Ainur Khuzhakhmetov, who, as an expert for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and security forces, prepared linguistic assessments used in politically motivated criminal proceedings against Bashkir activists.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The name of the initiative refers to a linguistic ploy used by the authorities against Fail Alsynov\u2014they accused him of using the word “black” in a derogatory sense.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Khuzhakhmetov is a doctoral student in philology and lectures at the Ufa University of Science and Technology. His expert opinions were used, among others, in the case of Fail Alsynov<\/a>, where he labeled the expression <\/span>\u00ab\u04a1ara \u0445\u0430\u043b\u044b\u04a1\u00bb<\/b> (“ordinary people”) as offensive, even though in the Bashkir language it is a common term for common folk. He also participated in expert assessments in the “Karmaskaly case”<\/a> related to the defenders of the shihan (mountain) Kushtau<\/a> and the subsequent banning of the Bashkort movement.<\/span><\/p>

In its statement, the movement identified Khuzhakhmetov as one of the individuals responsible for the repression against Bashkirs:<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWe know everyone who participated in the repressions against the Bashkirs. We have forgotten nothing and forgiven no one. Because of this man’s false expert testimonies, dozens of people ended up in prison.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>

The organization also released a video capturing the attack itself. At the end, a telephone conversation is heard, indicating that Khuzhakhmetov sustained injuries, was hospitalized, and is wearing a medical brace. Neither the victim nor the university leadership has publicly commented on the incident, and Russian security authorities have yet to issue an official statement. <\/span><\/p>

The attack represents a significant symbolic moment in the evolution of the Bashkir resistance. The target was openly a person who provided the repressive forces with the professional expertise for political trials. <\/span><\/p>

The movement is thus sending a clear signal that accountability for the persecution of Bashkir activists will not be postponed to some indefinite future. It will be enforced now. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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WE ARE THE BLACK FOLK<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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