A-Infos (en) Russia, Avtonom.org*: More on the Khimki forests' struggle

Today (30th of July) names of two activists, arrested in related to criminal case on 
“hooliganism” after attack against city administration of city of Khimki in Moscow region 
28th of July were published in maintream news – Aleksey Gaskarov and Maksim Solopov. --We 
will not now remind about details of corruption and violations, connected to construction 
of new Moscow – St. Petersburg highway through Khimki forest, or the protest campaign 
against it, as you may read about all of this in our website in respective section. 
Obviously, these arrests were just yet another confirmation of the pathetic unity, which 
was recently reached between regional and federal authorities, big business, local police 
and right-wing football hooligans, which all together protected against eco-camp of those 
protesting the clearing the forest from the highway.

Aleksey Gaskarov is a libertarian socialist, who during many years was one of
the most active people in the movement in Moscow region. Maksim Solopov is a
leftist, not an anarchists, but besides disagreements he proved him self to
be a trusted comrade in anti-fascist struggle. Aleksey and Maksim are one of
the few people in Russia, who publicly, with their own faces, supported most
determined means against Nazi mayhem and excesses of the authorities in the
country, take for example this program from REN-TV:

As a result, Nazis were threatening them plenty of times, and now
apperently “Center of Counteraction Against Extremism”  of the Moscow Region
decided to deliver them a blow.

We demand immediate release of Aleksey Gaskarov and Maksim Solopov, no matter
if they participated to action in Khimki 28th of July or not – those fighting
corruption and excesses of the authorities are not hooligans, but heroes!

 Free Aleksey Gaskarov and Maksim Solopov!

(For working links, photos and video, go original version at
https://avtonom.org/en/node/12872)

+++++++++++++++

Moscow / Khimki: The Battle with the Adminstration Heats Up

http://cia.bzzz.net/moscow_khimki_the_battle_with_the_adminstration_heats_up

In recent days, the battle to stop the destruction of the forest in the Moscow
suburb of Khimki has heated up. Activists have been protesting the building
of an $8 million high speed toll highway between Moscow and Petersburg. This
highway would destroy beautiful forestland around Moscow. Environmentalists
say the highway can bypass the old oak forest.

The flashpoint has been in Khimki, right outside Moscow. There is a history of
violence sponsored by the local authorities in this town. In the most famous
case of political terrorism, in November 2008, Mikhail Beketov, outspoken
editor-in-chief of the regional Khimskaya Prada newspaper, was savagely
beaten in front of his home. The attack was clearly related to his criticism
of local authorities. As a result of his injuries one of his legs was
amputated, and head traumas he suffered during the attack have left him
unable to speak. Current reports on his condition indicate that his second
leg may have to be amputated.

Khimki authorities thus have a reputation for dealing brutally with anybody
who dares oppose them.

Direct actions started the 14th, when the logging was to begin. Activists set
up an action camp in Khimki to take direct action against the deforestation.
They have used blockades on the train lines leading to the logging site.

On July 23, at about 5AM, the protestors and two journalists were attacked and
beaten on a gang of several dozen thugs with white T-shirts masking their
faces. From all indications, this was an organized group of neofascists,
wearing such symbols on their shirts. The police arrived and started
arresting the activists, not the attackers, which indicated that this was an
attack carried out in coordination with the police. Security guards fired by
the firm carrying out the destruction also took part.

15 people were arrested at that time. Later in the day, the police arrived
again, taking away dozens of people.

When some activists tried to protest in front of the White House in Moscow
about the Khimki matter, they were also immediately arrested.

On July 28, a large group, (most say 400-500 people), marched on Khimki. A
part of them (70-100 people), attacked the local administration building.
This is shown on the video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqQFtJMBPbc

According to local residents, about 20.00 a group of young people, numbering
from 400 to 500 people attacked the administration of Khimki. Young people
chanted slogans: "Defend Russian forest", "Strelchenko (Chapter Khimki signed
a decree on the construction of logging roads), hands off from the forest",
etc. Having a column from the commuter train station and in front of him
carrying a huge tranparant "Protecting our forest from the Nazi occupiers!",
young people, according to eyewitnesses, the building started throwing stones
and smoke bombs.

As a result, the building knocked out most of the glasses, there are other
injuries.After the "feast kamnemetaniya" lasted a few minutes of the youth
managed to disperse. The police did not detain anyone.

Local residents with not only sought to help the police, but expressed support
for such radical action to protect forests Khimki. This is not particularly
surprising, since the decision on logging (as well, and the mayor himself
Strelchenko) is extremely unpopular among the citizens.

Recall, for more than week standoff lasts local residents and
environmentalists on one side and developers and the authorities - the other
for the commencement of the felling of forests in place the proposed route in
the area of Sheremetyevo airport.26 July it came to melee combat, and today
the city administration and the developer for some strange reason, cancel the
alleged public hearing, which was supposed to explain to residents the legal
foundation and desirability of deforestation.

As you can see, the lack of readiness for dialogue with the authorities and
the developer triggers a transition of the defenders of the forest to more
radical protests.It should be noted that among the slogans chanted that the
attackers were charged Strelchenko in ordering an attack on opposition
journalist Michael Beketova in November 2008.

Beketov was seriously injured and are still deprived of the opportunity to
speak and move. Version of the involvement of the mayor Khimki to attack
Beketova who actively criticized the mayor's office, is quite popular among
the townspeople, but was not proved the result.

Also today, at 17.00, nearly 200 advocates gathered at the Khimki woods
DK "Homeland", where they invited the local administration to the public
hearing, organized by "Heat", cut down the forest.

However, already in place an advertisement to inform people that the public
hearing will be canceled. Instead, officials tried to organize a rally in
support of the construction of highways and logging.This angered people who
felt the administration's actions "provocation" and "blatant fraud".

So after a small gathering, rally defenders Himskinskogo timber headed to the
site of harvesting, which now goes to the heart of the forest. They intend to
expand the eco-camp there.

Upon arrival, the defenders of the forest met dozens of policemen and security
guards. They do not allow the territory of deforestation. As of the ICD
Elena, an activist with the Moscow Ecological Movement "Garden city".The
situation is very tense. We arrived on the scene helpers Zhirinovsky and
amounted to an act of the General Prosecutor's Office that they and other
people the police do not miss.

Recall how to find defenders of the forest on July 26, the company "Heat" no
approvals for logging. Precisely because of this guard woodcutters hired
thugs who attacked the activists. In this regard, the State Duma deputy from
the Fair Russia Anton Belyakov sent deputatscue request to the Prosecutor
General of Russia.

In addition, activists reported that on Friday 30 July at 11.00, held public
hearings on the scandal Khimki felling of forests in the Public Chamber.

(For working links, photos and video, go original version at
https://avtonom.org/en/node/12872)

Source

Links:

Defenders Khimki forests held a press conference and strayed from the bandits

The attack on forest defenders Khimki

http://www.avtonom.org/en/node/12853
=========================================
* Website of the Autonomous Action - an organisation of libertarian communists
 founded in 2002. Right it unite 13 regional organisations/branches in Russia and Ukraine.
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