Aruna Arna

Aruna Arna
Арна Аруна Александр кысы
Born (1986-03-30) March 30, 1986 (age 40)
Gorno-Altaysk, Altai Republic, USSR
EducationTomsk Polytechnic University Gorno-Altaisk State University
Known forLeader of the protests in Altai

Aruna Aleksandrovna Arna (Altay: Аруна Александр кысы Арна, romanized: Aruna Aleksandr qısı Arna) is a public figure from the Altai Republic, the homeland of Altai peoples. She is a human rights activist and journalist, as well as the head of the public organisation 'Council of Residents of the Altai Republic'.

Early life and education

She was born on 30 March 1986 in Gorno-Altaysk. She graduated from Tomsk Polytechnic University in 2008 and Gorno-Altaysk State University in 2012.

In 2019, she founded the Council of Residents of the Altai Republic and began campaigning to protect Altai land.

In 2023, Russian security forces conducted a nine-hour search of her home despite her being pregnant and at risk of miscarriage. In June 2024, she was fined 180,000 roubles for posting about fraud in the Russian presidential election. In December, she faced administrative proceedings for allegedly spreading false information.

In June 2025, she organised protests in the republic against the abolition of village councils and amendments to the constitution.

She opposes the merger of the Altai Republic with the Altai Krai and refers to herself as the people's candidate for head of the republic.

A criminal case has been opened against her on charges of incitement to terrorism. For these charges on 1 June 2026 a Russian court found Aruna guilty and sentenced her to five years in prison for publishing dissident material, i.e. protest videos set to songs "Warszawianka (The Song of Warsaw)" and "The Internationale".

References

  1. ↑ Times, The Moscow (25 September 2025). "Altai Republic Protest Leader Released From Police Custody". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  2. ↑ "Аруна Арна. Народный лидер Алтая". Telegram. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  3. ↑ "Алтай: в доме этнической активистки прошел десятичасовой обыск". Сибирь.Реалии (in Russian). 8 November 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  4. ↑ "Алтай: на активистку составили протокол за пост об обстрелах городов". Сибирь.Реалии (in Russian). 10 December 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  5. ↑ https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/06/24/we-want-our-own-people-in-charge
  6. ↑ "Из Конституции Республики Алтай исключены положения, закрепляющие принцип целостности и неделимости территории субъекта РФ". Indigenous Russia. 25 April 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  7. ↑ "Против алтайской активистки Аруны Арна возбуждено уголовное дело по статье о призывах к терроризму". ЭХО (in Russian). 24 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  8. ↑ https://zona.media/news/2026/06/01/arna
  9. ↑ https://glasnaya.media/2026/06/01/aktivistka-i-mnogodetnaya-mat-aruna-arna-poluchila-pyat-let-kolonii-za-publikaczii-v-telegram-kanale/
  10. ↑ https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/06/01/military-court-jails-altai-activist-5-years-for-inciting-terrorism-a92894