[11][12] In April 2023, Bashkir environmental activist Fail Alsynov participated in protests in the village of Ishmurzino, Baymaksky District, Bashkortostan, opposing geological exploration work within the Irendik mountain range.

[13][14] In May 2023, the Head of Bashkortostan, Radiy Khabirov, asked deputies of the local parliament, the Kurultai, to propose an initiative to transfer to Russian regions the authority to issue licenses for the extraction of gold using the alluvial (placer) method.

Khabirov said:[15][16] For quite a long time we have been concerned about the situation with gold mining in a number of areas of the Trans-Urals using the alluvial method.

Khabirov accused Alsynov of delivering a speech with negative content about the ethnicities of Armenians, Caucasians, and Central Asians during the April 2023 rally organized in defense of the lands of the Bashkir Trans-Urals from mining (migrant workers from outside Bashkortostan were planned to be employed in mining operations,[17] some of which Alysnov believes are illicit[18]).

The rally aimed to prevent resource extraction due to negative perceptions of companies and organizers affiliated with the Bashkir government, who faced backlash from local residents.

[17] In early 2024, the prosecutor's office imposed a four-year prison term on Alsynov for "inciting hatred on ethnic grounds".

The protest took an unusual form, with participants engaging in folk dance, circling, and singing songs in the Bashkir language.

[27] Rally participants reportedly attempted unsuccessfully to block the road and prevent the police bus carrying detainees from leaving.

[30] Radiy Khabirov, the Head of the Republic of Bashkortostan, pledged not to tolerate extremism and any attempts to undermine the situation in the region.