Aruna Arna

Aruna Aleksandrovna Arna is a public figure from the Altai Republic. 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.