Ukrainian journalists spoke with the well-known activist and nationalist from Bashkortostan, Ruslan Gabbasov. He called on his people to finally begin the struggle for independence while Russia weakened amid the war with Ukraine.
Why the protests in Bashkiria were fruitless
Mass protests in Bashkortostan came as a surprise not only to Russians but also to Ukrainians.
While the authorities of the Russian Federation were fearfully trying to disperse the Bashkirs who demanded that Putin release the well-known activist Fail Alsynov, Ukraine did not expect any surprises from these rallies.
According to Gabbasov, he understands the scepticism of Ukrainians but wants the Bashkirs to understand as well.
Ukrainians can be understood. In Ukraine, they want us to ideally pull out a large-caliber machine gun and start mowing down everyone. But the realities must be taken into account. They are as follows: people who have nothing to do with weapons and military resistance came out on the street. The people came to the defense of an authoritative, respected person. When people got angry, what was at hand flew to the riot police. After all these words (about the frivolity of such resistance — ed.), I don't want to give interviews to many Ukrainian channels.
It is not a secret for anyone that the rallies ended with the dispersal of everyone, and arrests and criminal cases began.
Despite this, Gabbasov urges not to forget that Bashkortostan is one of dozens of regions of the Russian Federation.
According to his conviction, if the rest did not just observe, supported on the Internet, if at least a few republics came out for protests, then the collapse of Putin's regime would come.
Gabbasov believes that his people can finally separate from Russia
Although the protests in Bashkortostan have dispersed, the activist judges that his people still have a chance to fight for their independence from Russia.
Currently, as part of this country (Russia — ed.), we are dying, disappearing. They deliberately kill us by sending us to war. And at this time, our people are being beaten in the Republic of Bashkortostan itself, put in prison. Today we have a real chance to live for ourselves, to become independent. Therefore, before you fight and die for this "Russian peace", which makes us "Russians", deprives us of national self-awareness, think carefully. And when you think about it, turn your weapons in the direction of Moscow, because we may not have another chance.
