Press Release, 20.04.2017

On 20 April, activists of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO held a series of one-person pickets by the State Duma protesting against the draft law initiated by Moscow government on “housing renovation” which the State Duma had to consider in the first reading. The law deprives Muscovites of their private property right, as well as violates all the city developing, sanitary and environmental norms.

Sergei Mitrokhin, Chair of the Moscow YABLOKO, participated in the picketing.

Fifteen activists took part in the picketing. “Even such a small number of people provoked the police to threaten us with arrests. Fortunately, this did not happen,” Sergei Mitrokhin said.

The participants in the action held posters “The amendments on demolishing of houses mean the murder of Moscow”, “Reconstruction is violence, deprivation of people of their rights and lawlessness”, etc.

Residents of housing from Godovikov street, who, according to Mitrokhin, were deceived in the provision of new housing, and residents from unfit housing in the 7th Parkovaya street who had to be resettled in new houses but the city government did not want to do it, participated in the action.

“This bill abolishes all urban, environmental, sanitary and even fire regulations in Moscow, deprives millions of Muscovites of their right to own their own apartments, and allows to deport people to the outskirts. All this is done in the name of profit for investors and secret commissions to officials. Today we have come to the State Duma to say that our decisive “no” to the bill,” Sergei Mitrokhin stressed.

YABLOKO demands open condemnation of the draft programme of demolition of five-story buildings. YABLOKO held a round table on this issue with the participation of experts.