Head of Ecological Watch in the Northern
Caucasus and member of the YABLOKO party Andrei Rudomakha
was chosen a winner of The Best Civil Action contest. The
ecologist was awarded the prize by the jury for organisation
of the public campaign for protection of the Utrish natural
reserve. The contest was organised by the Law and Justice
Foundation.
From December 2009 through to April 2010 four waves of public
actions in protection of Utrish were conducted. The actions
embraced over 70 cities in Russia and Ukraine. In Russia the
actions were held from Kaliningrad in the West to Khabarovsk
in the East, Murmansk in the North and Sochi and Vladikavkaz
in the South.
The unique Utrish reserve is at risk. This is due to plans
by the Administration of the RF President to build in the
very heart of the reserve a new state residence (the project
is entitled a "sports and recreation complex").
Implementation of this project will destroy the most valuable
natural features of the reserve – the district of the Utrish
relict lagoons. The public campaign addressed personally President
Dmitry Medvedev calling him to preserve Utrish.
The activists sent three addresses to the President with
about 20,000 signatures in favour of protection of the natural
reserve. This public campaign became the largest environmental
campaign in Russia for the past years.
During the recent action conducted on December 5, Andrei
Rudomakha was detained by police. However, he was released
thanks to the interference of human rights activists and came
to Moscow to get the prize.
See also:
YABLOKO calls on journalists
to visit the Utrish nature reserve that has been threatened
with destruction. Press Release, December 8, 2010.
Police
detained YABLOKO's activists during an action in defence of
the national park. Press Release, December 5, 2010
Protection
of Environment
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