Bashkir Activist Released From Russian Prison After Health Deteriorates

Rustem Mulyukov (file photo)

A Russian court granted the "immediate" release of ethnic Bashkir activist Rustem Mulyukov on November 12 due to his deteriorating health. The 47-year-old activist has been on dialysis due to failing kidneys since late 2023. Previous requests by his lawyers for a medical release were rejected. Mulyukov was sentenced to 30 months in prison in June 2023 along with the former chief of late opposition politician Aleksei Navalny's team in Bashkortostan, Lilia Chanysheva, who was handed a 7 1/2-year term. Both were found guilty of extremism, a charge they and rights organizations called politically motivated. Chanysheva was released in August as part of a major prisoner swap between Russia and the West. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Idel.Realities, click here.