Press Release, June 6, 2013

The Moscow authorities finally removed the fence which has surrounded the first historic beach Serebryany Bor (silver forest) for 8 years. The officials took measures only after YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin sawed the gates and several unites of the fence down with a wire cutter and an angle grinder.

YABLOKO’s activists dismantling the fence

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin sawing the fence down

YABLOKO held public inspections of the beach several times, but every time the action was announced the gates of the fence were open and police officers claimed the gates have never been closed. But at other times the citizens could not get in.
A security officer told that authorities and some police representatives arrived at the place for weekends, while the citizens were not allowed to get in.
Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of YABLOKO, Sergei Menzheritsky, member of YABLOKO’s Green Russia faction and leader of Otkrity Bereg (Open shore) movement and several activists removed the gates and several unites of the fence to open the access to the beach on June 1.
Due to the YABLOKO anyone has the access to the beach now.
Head of Special Protected Natural Reservation department notified the YABLOKO that the fence would be finally dismantled. Later YABLOKO’s activist examined the territory and made sure the promise of the officials was put in motion.
Sergei Menzheritsky believes that the dismantling of the fence is the absolute victory. “We exerted pressure upon the authorities and they could no longer ignore this outrageous violation of the law”, he said.