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Russian dog-lovers fight to save strays from cull in Siberia’s Ulan-Ude

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Dog lovers in Russia’s Far East are rallying to save hundreds of stray dogs facing euthanasia by local authorities. Ulan-Ude, a town in Eastern Siberia near the Mongolian border, has already culled 18 dogs, prompting urgent efforts to relocate 600 dogs to new homes or shelters within Russia. Volunteers are traveling by train to cities like Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan, Khabarovsk, and Vladivostok to ensure these dogs escape the grim fate of being put down. The severe winter weather, with temperatures as low as -20°C, adds urgency to the rescue mission.

The decision to euthanize strays in Ulan-Ude reflects a broader issue in Russia’s republic of Buryatia. In 2020, a national law aimed to address the problem by implementing humane practices such as catching, sterilizing, vaccinating, and releasing stray dogs. However, concerns about potential attacks led to the rollback of the law in Buryatia, reviving the controversial practice of culling. The root cause, according to activists, lies in neglect, with dogs being abandoned or discarded by owners.

Local laws in Buryatia lack accountability for irresponsible pet ownership, contributing to an ongoing cycle of stray dogs. Activists argue that, despite the culling efforts, more dogs will continue to populate the streets due to this neglectful behavior. While hundreds of dogs have been saved, the financial burden of rescue efforts is significant, with each dog’s journey to safety costing approximately 5,000 roubles (£44; $55). Generous financial support and volunteers willing to cover the costs have played a crucial role in the success of the rescue mission.

Despite the successful relocation of many dogs, challenges persist, leaving some with uncertain fates. Animal welfare volunteer Stella Ovsoyan highlights the emotional toll of having to choose which dogs to send to safety, emphasizing the difficulty of the situation. However, the hope of providing a new and improved life for these dogs keeps volunteers committed to their mission, even in the face of adversity.

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Russia school shooting: Teenage girl kills classmate and herself

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A tragic incident unfolded in the city of Bryansk, western Russia, where a teenage girl fatally shot a fellow student before turning the gun on herself at Gymnasium No 5 on Thursday morning. Five individuals, including one seriously injured, were harmed in the shooting. The firearm used was reportedly registered under the girl’s father’s name, according to a parliamentarian.

Authorities were alerted to the situation around 09:15 local time, and one victim was undergoing surgery, as stated by Russia’s deputy health minister, Alexey Kuznetsov. The police suspect that the 14-year-old girl may have been involved in a conflict with classmates.

Local authorities are providing psychological support to students, teachers, and parents affected by the incident. Alexander Khinshtein, a member of the Russian Duma, revealed on Telegram that the girl’s belongings, including a box of bullets, were discovered during a school search. He emphasized the “neglectful attitude” towards the secure storage of the firearm as a contributing factor to the tragedy.

Strict gun laws in Russia require firearms to be stored in a special safe, accessible only by the legal owner, and subject to regular police inspections. Students reportedly barricaded themselves in a classroom upon hearing gunshots.

The governor of the Bryansk region, Alexander Bogomaz, described the shooting as a “terrible tragedy.” While school shootings have occurred in Russia in recent years, this incident is noteworthy as it involves a female shooter. In 2021, a 19-year-old carried out a shooting in Kazan, resulting in the deaths of seven children and two adults, and the following year, 18 people were killed in a school shooting in Udmurtia.

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American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva arrested in Russia

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Alsu Kurmasheva, an American journalist working for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Prague, was detained after a visit to her family in Kazan, Russia. She was first detained on June 2 and then again recently, charged with failing to register as a foreign agent, which could lead to a five-year jail term.

The arrest of Alsu Kurmasheva comes after the detention of another American journalist, Evan Gershkovich, who was charged with espionage earlier in the year. Gershkovich’s employer and the US government refute the charges, suggesting that he is being held for potential exchange purposes.

Kurmasheva, who holds both US and Russian citizenship, is known for her work focusing on ethnic minority issues in central Russia. She was charged with collecting information on behalf of foreign governments under a law that is criticized for its broad interpretation, potentially encompassing even basic information about military personnel.

This incident adds to a series of events where Russian authorities have been accused of using repressive laws to target journalists and stifle independent reporting. Notably, several journalists and Kremlin critics have been labeled “foreign agents,” and some, including Nobel Peace Prize-winner Dmitry Muratov, have faced such accusations. Additionally, cases like that of Ivan Safronov, who was sentenced to 22 years on treason charges, and Dmitry Ivanov, sentenced to eight and a half years for sharing information about the Russian army, have raised concerns about the state of press freedom in the country.

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