Statement by the YABLOKO party, 16.06.2016

One of the most authoritative environmentalists, Chair of the Environmentalists Union of Bashkiria Alexander Veselov was brutally beaten in Bashkiria. Many times he received threats in connection with his fight against environmentally hazardous plants of the republic. Alexander Veselov is the author of hundreds of publications on natural conservation, prize-winner of many environmental awards, general director of the All-Russia association of law ecologists, former member of the Public Chamber of the Republic of Bashkortostan and a friend of YABLOKO’s Green Russia faction.

An unidentified man attacked Alexander Veselov in the centre of Ufa in the daytime on 15 June. He hit him on the face several times saying: “Mind your own business!”. The attack took place soon after Alexander Veselov had had a meeting with the husband of the Vtorindustria local company owner. This company participates in the extension of the solid domestic waste landfill in Sterlitmak [the second largest city in the republic], which is carried with violations of sanitary and environmental regulations.

We can not rule out that the attack is connected with A.Veselov’s survey “Ecology and EcoCheating  in Bashkortostan”,which was published in April, where he sharply criticized the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of Bashkiria.

We ask the RF Prosecutor General to take the investigation of this cynical crime, which is of great social significance, under federal control.

Within the framework of the election campaign to the State Duma of the RF YABLOKO’s candidate in the Republic of Bashkortostan are going to press for a broad investigation of the activities of the Vtorindustria company and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Republic of Boshkortostan , which is surprisingly well-disposed to the illegal (this has already been established by official checks and courts) activity of the company.

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO once again declares every kind of support of independent environmental organisations in their activities against environmentally hazardous projects and violation of environmental regulations, although the regulations have been eased considerably, they still exist. The protection of people, who guard social well-being, is an important task of the society and the state.

We wish Alexander Veselov a speedy recovery.

Emilia Slabunova, YABLOKO Chairperson

Alexei Yablokov, Chairman of YABLOKO’s Green Russia faction

Sergei Naumkin, Chair of the Bashkiria branch of YABLOKO