| On the 16th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster a protest
action against importing nuclear waste into Russia was held in
82 cities of 53 Russian regions. The action was organised by the
Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO, different environmental and
human rights organizations. According to preliminary estimates,
about 30,000 activists participated in the action.
In addition to pickets, where the activists distributed leaflets
and newspapers (over two million newspapers and leaflets), each
organisation was free to determine its own form of participation
in the action. For example, a requiem service was held in the
Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk to commemorate everybody who
died after trying to eliminate the disaster. In Ulyanovsk a commemorial
procession was held: in Tomsk demonstrators in gas masks led by
deputies from the Tomsk Duma marched across the city. Many cities
performed mock burials of spent nuclear fuel.
In Moscow Grigory Yavlinsky made a speech at the meeting against
nuclear waste imports at Kaluzhskaya square. He called on the
authorities to look in the eyes of those who worked to eliminate
the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster and realise the "difference
between their views and the views of satisfied and bullying bureaucrats,
who know full well that the [nuclear] waste will remain for our
children and grand-children, but that they will receive money
tomorrow."
There were no accidents during the action: however in Sochi picketers
were arrested by the police, but were released within 30 minutes.
See also:
YABLOKO
Against Nuclear Waste Imports
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