Russian Cattle in Danger

In Novosibirsk Oblast, authorities have begun detaining local residents who have been protesting the mass culling of livestock due to a disease outbreak. The outbreak began in February, when authorities began removing cattle from private farms and imposing quarantines. In March, residents of several villages began holding rallies, claiming that their healthy cows were being taken away. Indeed, human rights activist Yevgeny Stupin believes that the mass culling of livestock has nothing to do with infections, but rather with an attempt to seize the market segment currently held by private farms and transfer it to large agricultural holdings.

The publication Agenstvo noted that the last farmer protests in the country took place ten years ago. In 2016, a tractor march was held in Krasnodar against corporate raiding, and residents of occupied Crimea held a rally against a quarantine imposed due to African swine fever. Despite the fact that a war had already broken out on the border with Ukraine and the state was increasing pressure on citizens, the situation in the country was still quite different, and participating in such actions didn't seem particularly dangerous.

Today, Russians have become accustomed to the fact that any public statement can result in a prison sentence. Nevertheless, since late 2025, there has been a rise in local protests, mainly related to economic issues, such as the increase in the vehicle recycling fee or tax reform. With rare exceptions, such rallies are permitted; that is, activists notify the authorities in advance of their intention to hold an event and obtain the required permission. 

In contrast, the protests by Novosibirsk farmers are not only unauthorized but also involve resistance to government actions. Protesters are demanding to see the documents on the implementation of the quarantine and are blocking the passage of tractors that have arrived to take away the livestock. 

According to The Insider, people are not merely unhappy that their source of income is being taken away; they suspect officials of concealing the true causes of the cows’ illness. Officials report on the fight against rabies and pasteurellosis, yet they act as if the animals have hoof-and-mouth disease. The latter is a far more dangerous disease, requiring the strictest possible quarantine measures. Acknowledging the existence of such a problem would affect the region’s ability to export dairy and meat products. 

Indirect evidence of an attempt to conceal certain information is the fact that, among those detained is journalist Ivan Frolov, who had been covering the protests. While citizens are trying to defend their interests, Frolov is being investigated for “disseminating knowingly false information about circumstances posing a threat to the lives and safety of citizens.”