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Off with your hands from the defenders of the Khimki Forest!

Statement by the YABLOKO party
July 23, 2010

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO supports the defenders of the Khimki forest and calls to stop unlawful reprisals against them.

The intimidation action against the defenders of the Khimki forest held by unidentified hooligans at police negligence and the following unlawful dispelling of environmental activists by OMON (the riot police), make one to speak about coordinated actions by corrupt authorities, irresponsible business and criminal groups.

If this extremely dangerous precedent of using thugs against civil activists will not receive proper evaluation by the society and the state, this will open a way to qualitative increase in violence in politics and public life.

We believe that the situation deserves close attention of the authorities at the highest level up to the President of Russia.

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO calls the human rights community and democratic politicians to defend the constitutional rights of the Khimki activists and render them all possible assistance. This is the case, when Russia’s civil society has virtually shown itself and dared to resist the big money and the state machinery. Its support in this confrontation is far more important than hundreds of rallies in defense of democracy in general.

We also fully support the requirements of the defenders of the Khimki Forest. Destruction of a unique natural complex providing fresh air to the capital of Russia will bring to nothing all the talks about modernization and demonstrate to Russian citizens and the entire world the inability of the Russian state to modernise.

We demand that the Public Prosecutor General should open criminal cases against police officers on the fact of their negligence towards recruited hooligans, as well as of unlawful detention and beating of the defenders of the Khimki Forest.

Sergei Mitrokhin,
Chair of the YABLOKO party


See also:

Protection of Environment

Human Rights

Destruction of nature has been accelerating. Statement by the YABLOKO party on the threashold of the World Environment Day. June 4, 2010

In protection of the Khimki Forest and its defenders. Statement by the YABLOKO party. July 17, 2010.

Ecologists block the driver who attacked the leader of the Movement in Protection of the Khimki Forest. Press Release. July 19, 2010

 

 

 




July 23, 2010