Russia: Tatar activist loses job after organizing protests
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 16 January 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russia: Tatar activist loses job after organizing protests, 16 January 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/54e1a3b7c.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
January 16, 2015
By RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service
ARCHA, Russia – A Tatar activist says he has been fired from his job after helping organize protests against the jailing of a fellow activist in Russia's Tatarstan region.
Danis Safargali told RFE/RL that his employers at a fishing resort told him on January 16 that he had been dismissed for "systematic violation of work regulations."
Sarfargail helped organize coordinated single-person protests on January 14 in Tatarstan and three other regions that are home to non-Russian ethnic groups.
The protesters demanded the release of Tatar activist Rafis Kashapov, who has criticized Russia's annexation of Crimea and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. Kashapov was arrested in December and charged with inciting ethnic, racial, and religious hatred via the Internet.
Safargali said he would appeal his dismissal in court.
He said that the papers were filed on January 15 but dated January 13.
He believes his employer back-dated the papers to show that he was fired a day before the protests because they feared being associated with him.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website