The head of “Free Buryatia” was accused of fakes because of the story about the refuseniks

A criminal case about the so-called fakes about the Russian army was opened against the founder of the “Free Buryatia” foundation, Alexandra Harmazhapova, because of her interview with the Ukrainian project “Groshi”. In it, she talked about Russian soldiers who refused to fight and were forcibly detained in the so-called “LPR”.

As Harmazhapova stated on the air of the TV channel “Dozhd”, the investigation considered her statement about the fear of these soldiers to be “sent to the front without equipment and shot” as “negative information”. In addition, the investigation considered the remark about the Buryats, who are allegedly sent to war “as an insignificant people”, to be a fake.

The activist’s conversation with journalists took place in July last year. Then Harmazhapova claimed that 17 servicemen were locked up in the commandant’s office in the occupied territory because of their refusal to go to the front line. The head of the fund noted that the contractors submitted reports about the termination of the contract due to unwillingness to continue fighting, but they refused to consider them. The military also turned to “Free Buryatia” for help, as there were natives of Buryatia and Tyva among them, reports Sibir.Realii.

The court in Ulan-Ude will consider the criminal case against Harmazhapova in absentia. The date of the first meeting has not yet been set, the details of the case are still unknown, but, as “Mediazona” reports, the materials have already been submitted to the court. In February 2023, Harmazhapova was placed on the federal wanted list. The activist herself lives abroad. In the fall of 2022, she was entered into the register of “foreign agents”.

• On September 1, 2023, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia recognized the anti-war foundation “Free Buryatia” as an undesirable organization on the territory of the country. The reason for this was called the “anti-Russian actions” fund organization. In March, the fund was included in the register of “foreign agents” for, according to the Ministry of Justice, calling for actions that “may lead to a violation of the territorial integrity” of Russia. Roskomnadzor previously blocked the website of “Free Buryatia”.
• “Free Buryatia” criticizes Russia’s war in Ukraine, helps servicemen from Buryatia to defend their rights and return from the war zone. The Foundation also advocates the so-called decolonization of Russia, meaning decentralization of power and ensuring the rights of all peoples living in Russia.