Supreme Court Upholds Controversial Municipal Reform Amid Protests in Altai

On Monday, the Supreme Court of the Altai Republic in Siberia dismissed a lawsuit that contested a contentious municipal reform enacted by the regional parliament in June, as reported by local media and activists.

In anticipation of the court’s decision, hundreds gathered outside the courthouse to protest against the Kremlin-supported reform. This legislation effectively abolishes local governance in rural areas, further consolidating authority within the regional administration.

Footage shared by activists displayed the crowd shouting phrases like “Shame on the judge” and “We are united, we are invincible” following the announcement of the ruling by activist and attorney Dmitriy Todoshev, one of the plaintiffs in the case.

Todoshev expressed his intention to appeal to a higher court, stating, “Ultimately, victory will be ours. I will continue to fight until the end,” as supporters honored him with a traditional Altaian hat and belt in appreciation.

The Altai Republic, Russia’s least populated ethnic region, has a population of just over 221,500 people spread across an area exceeding 92,000 square kilometers (35,521 square miles). Its capital, Gorno-Altaysk, is home to approximately 65,000 residents, meaning that many inhabitants in rural villages are directly affected by the reform.

In June, a demonstration against the reform in Gorno-Altaysk attracted around 4,000 participants, marking a rare instance of public dissent in the face of the government’s increasing repression of opposition following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.