Fact Check: "4,000 protestors rally against Moscow's oppressive changes in Altai region."
What We Know
The claim that "4,000 protestors rally against Moscow's oppressive changes in Altai region" lacks substantiation from credible sources. While there have been protests across Russia, including in the Altai region, the reported numbers do not support the claim. According to the BBC, over 4,300 people were detained at anti-war protests across Russia on a specific Sunday, but this figure includes multiple cities and does not specifically mention Altai. The protests have been widespread due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the OVD-Info rights group reporting that more than 10,000 people have been detained in total since the invasion began (BBC).
Additionally, a specific protest in the Altai region on a different occasion involved only eight arrests, as reported by The Moscow Times. This suggests that while there may be discontent in the region, the scale of protests does not match the claim of 4,000 participants.
Analysis
The claim appears to exaggerate the scale of protests in the Altai region. The sources reviewed indicate that while protests against the Russian government and its policies have occurred, including in Altai, the specific figure of 4,000 protestors is not corroborated by any reliable reports. The BBC and AP News both highlight the broader context of anti-war protests across Russia, which have seen significant detentions but do not provide evidence of a singular large protest in Altai (BBC, AP News).
Moreover, the OVD-Info group, which tracks political arrests, reported that protests have occurred in numerous cities, but again, there is no specific mention of a large protest in Altai with the claimed number of participants. The lack of evidence from multiple credible sources raises questions about the reliability of the claim.
Conclusion
The claim that "4,000 protestors rally against Moscow's oppressive changes in Altai region" is False. The evidence does not support such a high number of participants in protests specifically in the Altai region, and the available reports indicate that protests, while significant, have not reached the scale suggested by the claim.
