A massive die-off of marine life has hit the republic of Bashkortostan, nestled between the Volga River and the Ural Mountains, in what residents suspect to be a mass poisoning.
Videos posted on social media showed dead fish, floating belly up, lining the banks of a local river.
The regional environmental protection service took samples from the local river for analysis, with possible contamination coming from a river in the neighboring Perm region, Interfax reported Friday.
The results of the tests are expected on Monday, the Bashkortostan environmental protection department’s spokeswoman Liliya Nuretdinova told the Proufu.ru news website.
“We’re now informing the public. We’ve posted an announcement asking [people] to refrain from swimming in the river and fishing until all circumstances are fully clarified,” the head of the village council Razif Makhatov told the Ufa branch of RBC business portal.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
