Russia’s war has taken a heavy toll on Bashkirs fighting and dying in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine has significantly impacted the Bashkir ethnic minority, with many being sent to fight and die in disproportionate numbers. Human-rights activist Ruslan Gabbasov believes this is part of a broader strategy by the Kremlin to assimilate and diminish the Bashkir population. He was recently targeted in an assassination plot, which he links to his advocacy for Bashkir independence and the ongoing war.
- ▪Ruslan Gabbasov, a human-rights activist, was targeted in an assassination plot believed to be orchestrated by Moscow.
- ▪The death toll of Russian soldiers in Ukraine is estimated to be between 217,800 and 352,000, with a significant number from Bashkortostan.
- ▪As of April, at least 9,234 Bashkirs have been reported killed in the conflict, representing a higher percentage of their population compared to other regions.
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Open this photo in gallery:Human-rights activist Ruslan Gabbasov in Brussels in January, 2023. He was recently targeted in an assassination plot that Lithuanian police suspect was orchestrated from Moscow.Thierry Monasse/AFP/Getty ImagesShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountIn the eyes of Ruslan Gabbasov, Russia’s war against Ukraine is also a war against his own Bashkir people.The 46-year-old human-rights activist was recently targeted in an assassination plot that Lithuanian police suspect was orchestrated from Moscow. The plot was foiled, and Mr.
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