Press release, 25.06.2015

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin held a meeting with local residents who oppose the construction of a temple in Torfyanka park, Moscow. More than 300 people came to the meeting. YABLOKO leader focused on the legal bearings of the case.

“The authorities allowed to start the construction while the necessary legal requirements were not complete. The authorities falsified the public hearings, so the local residents were not properly informed about their holding. Such neglect of law always leads to conflicts,” said Sergei Mitrokhin.

He also noted that after YABLOKO’s appeal “even the Prosecutor’s Office admitted these violations, it doesn’t happen often”.

I considered the legal bearings of the case, the law is on the side of the citizens,” added YABLOKO leader.

The local residents claim that the park is the only green space in the district and they won’t give it up for construction. Over two thousand signatures have already been collected against the construction of the temple.

Sergei Mitrokhin also recieved an invitation from the local prefect to take part in the meeting on the situation which will take place in the prefect’s office. It turned out that Mitrokhin will be the only one who is going to represent the point of view of the residents. YABLOKO leader promised to insist on the stoppage of the construction and conduction of another public hearings.