| Eugeny Vitishko, candidate to the State Duma from the
YABLOKO party and leader of the Tuapse branch of YABLOKO,
and Eugenia Chirikova, leader of the Movement in Defence of
Khimki Forest, were detained in Tuapse during environmental
action on November 30. Chirikova has been released by now.
YABLOKO considers the detention unlawful and demands immediate
release of Eugeny Vitishko.
"Detention of Vitishko is absolutely unlawful, because
he is a candidate to the State Duma, and may be detained only
with Prosecutor's approval," said YABLOKO leader Sergei
Mitrokhin. He also noted that at YABLOKO was preparing a request
to Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission Vladimir Churov
and Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika demanding immediate release
of Eugeny Vitishko.
Environmentalists were detained during an action in Tuapse
against the launch of the Tuapse bulk terminal (TBT) of the
Eurochem company. Eugenia Chirikova was released after some
time, and Eugeny Vitishko was delivered to the police department.
Chirikova told by phone that she and Vitishko had been detained
by 20 police officers and border guards on four vehicles.
"The situation looks absurd, when such forces are thrown
to detention of two environmentalists. Moreover such police
forces are forwarded to detention of two environmentalists
in the Krasnodar region with bad crime situation, Chirikova
noted. According to her, it demonstrated that the authorities
were afraid of obstacles on the part of environmentalists
in the way of cashing the countrys resources.
It should be noted that a series of actions in protection
of the Black Sea took place in Tuapse: a rally, a photo exhibition,
a conference and a protest action against the launch of the
Tuapse bulk terminal. Environmentally unfriendly terminal
for shipment of chemical fertilizers was constructed in the
heart of this sea-side resort city despite protests of the
residents.
During the protest action Eugeny Vitishko and Eugenia Chirikova
sailed by boat to the ship "Eugenia B" standing
at the pier of the terminal and placed a placard "Let
Us Save Tuapse!" on the ships board. After this they
returned to shore where they were detained by police and border
guards.
See also:
Protection
of Environment
YABLOKO
Against Corruption
Bulk terminal in Tuapse
to be launched despite the decision of the President. Press
Release, July 25, 2011
Environmentalists
crash Putins seaside palace. France 24, The Observers
July 5, 2011
Sergei
Mitrokhin: tortures in the name of Christ. Sergei Mitrokhins
blog at the Echo Moskvi web-site, July 5, 2011
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