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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 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...

Destruction of nature has been accelerating

Statement by the YABLOKO party. June 4, 2010

The biosphere of our planet has not improved for the past year. We have been facing dangerous ongoing climate change, deterioration of the condition of the world ocean, shrinking biodiversity, disappearance of the rain forests, aging nuclear power stations and proliferation of nuclear weapons threaten us with another Chernobyl, chemical contamination and the spread of GMOs. Influential international bodies – the G-8 and the G-20, the World Bank, the European and the Asian Banks of Reconstruction and Development - declaring the importance of preserving the planet's ecosystems in words, virtually support quick-profit technologies detrimental on nature.

Lack of stringent environmental control over implementation of commercial projects at the national and the international level leads to a terrible disasters like that we observe in the Gulf of Mexico...

The authorities chose to support of oligarchs’ interests and reprisals against public organisations rather than protection of the Lake Baikal

Statement of the Bureau of the YABLOKO party, February 1, 2010

On January 28, 2010 the police of the Irkutsk region without any rulings of the court or public prosecutor blocked the work of the largest public organisation engaged in protection of the Lake Baikal – The Baikal Ecological Wave – confiscating their computers under the pretext of a check whether this organisation had been using licensed software. However, the representatives of the interior refused even to look at the certificates of the software submitted to them. The ecologists who tried to disobey confiscation of their computers were threatened with legal persecution in view of “attacking the police”.

The YABLOKO party expresses its resolute protest in view of such actions of the interior and considers them as a awkward attempt to shut down the wave of public discontent in view of the adoption by the Government of the RF of a resolution allowing to resume functioning of the Baikal Cellulose Paper Plant that have been polluting Baikal with its waste, as well as stored, buried and burnt hazardous waste on the banks of the lake. Such governmental decision was adopted in satisfaction of short-term interests of the owner of the plant – a definite tycoon, and contradicts Russia’s interests.

On anti-ecological policies of Russia’s authorities

Resolution of the 15th congress of the YABLOKO party No 253, December 24, 2009

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO regards the supreme goal of a democratic state as ensuring of flourishing of the country, the well-fare and the highest living standards for the citizens. One of the most important functions of the government is ensuring of ecological safety of the citizens and protection of nature as a national resource which is regarded as a public asset.
The political and economic system of modern Russia, its supreme political and economic administration grossly violates the principles of ecological policies determined by the Constitution of the Russian Federation: the rights of the citizens to a friendly environment, reliable information on its condition, recovering of the damage incurred in ecological violations, rational use and protection of natural resources and careful attitude to the natural riches that should be regarded as a foundation for life and performance of the citizens.
1. The policies of Boris Yeltsin – Vladimir Putin – Dmitry Medvedev created a system of underdeveloped periphery capitalism in Russia almost entirely basing on the maintenance and development of environmentally unfriendly productions left from the Soviet times. Neither the government nor business merging with the authorities pay any serious attention to the safe environment, as it is connected with reduction of their super profits. Consequently, Russia logically and inevitably has found itself on the periphery of rapidly developing innovative world.

State officials’ poaching should be stopped!

Statement by the YABLOKO party July 1, 2009

Mayor of Minusinsk (a city in the Krasnoyarsk Area) got drowned in the Podkamennaya Tunguska river on June 27. The circumstances of the accident showed that this accident took place during committing of a crime [by the Mayor] – unlawful fishing (fishing is prohibited in this part of the river until winter due to sturgeon spawning).

Sergei Mitrokhin: Yavlinsky Convinced Putin Not to Import Spent Nuclear Fuel
Refutation of an article from rbc.ru, March 4, 2004

In an article Putin Will Process the Nuclear Damp (from February 27) Alexei Vinogradov made a serious mistake. The author of the article stated that the President supports imports of spent nuclear fuel into Russia. This is not true. In the quotation used by Vinogradov as his source, Putin speaks refers to the need to focus on waste from our [domestically produced] fuel. He implies here that spent nuclear fuel from domestically produced fuel rod arrays were exported to Europe by the USSR and then by Russia.

Press releases

Police begins persecutions against the defenders of the Khimki Forest

Press Release, July 30, 2010.

Police has begun persecution of the activists from the "In defense of the Khimki Forest" movement and Euvgenia Chirikova, the movement’s leader. According to the defenders of the forest, yesterday they found out that they were under surveillance, police officers came to their homes without informing their relatives of the purpose of the visit. Also the activists did not get any official notifications from the police.

"Yesterday, shortly after we came out of the court of the Khimki town, we found our that we were under surveillance. It a stout man in a white suit. However, we managed to escape him: luckily we quickly got into a taxi and headed to Moscow", Yaroslav Nikitenko, Aid of Euvgenia Chirikova said...

Sergei Mitrokhin applied to Prime Minister Putin and Public Prosecutor General Chaika in view of unlawful cutting of the Khimki Forest

Press Release, July 30, 2010.

Today on July 30, YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin applied to Prime Minister Putin and Public Prosecutor General Chaika in view of unlawful cutting of the Khimki Forest.

According to the federal law "On Highways”, "cutting of the woods is only possible after obtaining a permission for construction of a highway. The Forestry Code requires that every user of the forests should obtain a land declaration. The normative acts of the town of Khimki require obtaining of a special cutting ticket, which should be supplied with a dendroplan and a tally sheet. According to our data, all of these documents are missing, thus cutting of the woods is unlawful,” runs Mitrokhin’s letter to Public Prosecutor General...

Sergei Mitrokhin stopped cutting of the trees in the Khimki Forest

Press Release, July 30, 2010.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin and party activists once again managed to stop cutting of the woods in the Khimki Forest.

Mitrokhin told the workers about the order of Public Prosecutor to stop all the works. After this the driver of a harvester stopped his work and was going to leave the site. However, one of the guards from the private security company tried to stop him, however, the driver refused to resume work. At the same time the other guards were calling their chiefs...

The Phobos company continues eliminating the Khimki Forest despite Public Prosecutor’s ban

Press Release, July 30, 2010.

Despite Public Prosecutor’s ban the workers of the Phobos company constructing the Moscow-St.Petersburg highway continue cutting of the Khimki forest. Vyacheslav Sorokin, whose house is located in 200 meters from the Khimki Forest, informed YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin of it today...

Ecologists and civil activists detained in the Khimki Forest are facing 15 days of arrest

Press Release, July 29, 2010.

At present YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin is in Public Prosecutor’s office in Khimki filing an application of unlawful actions by the police.

The police confiscated mobile phones of nine detained ecologists and journalists, thus depriving them of an opportunity to get in touch with lawyers and get a legal consultation.

The police officer on duty told Mitrokhin that confiscation of mobile phones was lawful, and the activists are kept in the wards. The police issued protocols of administrative violation (disobeying the police orders) against them, which can involve such punishment as 15 days of arrest. The leader of the defenders of the Khimki Forest Yevgenia Chirikova (who is one of the nine detained ecologists) managed to tell Mitrokhin that the policemen referred to an order of the Moscow Region Governor Boris Gromov who “had prohibited any persons to appear in the Forest”...

Police breaks into ecologists’ camp

Press Release, July 28, 2010.

At night of July 28 special riot police (OMON) broke into the camp of the Khimki Forest defenders made close to the cutting site. The police detained 16 persons, including the leader of the ecologist Yevgeniya Chirikova and five journalists.

However, YABLOKO and ecologists continue defending the Khimki Forest. YABLOKO’s experts state that the highway Moscow – St.Petersburg can well take one of the alternative routs without going through the Khimki Forest which is acting as the “lungs” of the region. Cutting of the woods has been held without any permits. Representatives of the construction company did not come to the scheduled meeting with the ecologists and residents of Khimki where they had promised to show “all the due permits”.

Public hearings on the Khimki Forest postponed

Press Release, July 28, 2010.

The meeting of the residents of the Khimki city, the Moscow regions, and Sergei Mitrokhin with representatives of OOO Teplotekhnik conducting cutting of the woods in the Khimki Forest is postponed for an undetermined period.

At the agreed time (June 28, 5 p.m.) the residents of the city and YABLOKO’s leader and party activists came to the meeting. However, the doors were closed and a sheet of paper notifying that the meeting is “postponed” was pinned on the doors. The notification gave no time or date of the new meeting.

Sergei Mitrokhin and the residents of the Presnya district, Moscow, will fill up the pit of an unlawful construction site

Press Release, July 28, 2010.

...In early May 2010, head of the Moscow construction complex Vladimir Resin said that the contract with the developer - the Phobos company – was dissolved. The local authority also issued an order to stop the works. However, these orders did not stop the Phobos construction company.
The residents of the neighbouring houses are afraid that their houses may give cracks and, consequently be ruined due to large-scale construction works in the old district of the city. After the workers were ousted by police the residents decided to fill in the excavated pit with earth.
On Thursday, July 29, Sergei Mitrokhin will meet with the residents of the district and also participate in filling in the pit with earth...

YABLOKO to participate in public hearings on the Khimki Forest

Press Release, July 28, 2010.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin and party activists will participate in the meeting of the residents of the Khimki district with representatives of a contracting company eliminating the Khimki Forest. The hearings will take place at 5 p.m. in the Dom Kulturi Rodina (address: Khimki, Leninsky prospect 2, by the Khimki railway station in the Leo Tolstoy Park).

Please note that tonight despite an announced moratorium on construction works and cutting of the woods, OAO Teplotekhnik continued cutting of the trees. According to the witnesses the work was conducted under spotlights. It is expected that after public hearings the participants of the meeting will go to the place of cuttings so that to stop unlawful works.

Unlawful works in the place of destructed architectural heritage stopped

Press Release, July 26, 2010.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin stopped construction works in the place of destructed architectural heritage in Tishinsky lane, Moscow. Despite a ban of the Moscow regulator the builders began excavation works. After arrival of Sergei Mitrokhin the workers disappeared.

The building at Bolshoi Tishinsky 30/44 building 1, was built in the early 20th century by architect Nirnzeye and was almost completely destroyed in 2008. Under a pretext of renovation the construction company left only a corner wall of the building. The residents of the area jointly with the YABLOKO party have been fighting against construction of a new building with a multi-level underground garage on the site of the destructed monument of architecture for two years. In early May 2010, head of the Moscow construction complex Vladimir Resin said that the contract with the developer - the Phobos company – was dissolved...

A mass-scale rally for protection of the environment took place in Tuapse

Press Release, July 19, 2010.

From 2 to 3 thousand people, according to different estimates, gathered for a rally in protection of environment in Tuapse (a city on the Black Sea) on July 18. The rally was organised by an initiative group headed by coordinator of the Environmental Watch in the North Caucasus and member of the YABLOKO party Andrei Rudomakha.

The participants of the rally demanded to conduct a referendum on construction of a terminal for the EuroChem chemical company in the Tuapse port, as well as stop oil extraction at the Black Sea shelf.

A broad-scale campaign launched by the local authorities and targeted at disruption of the rally was held on the threshold of the public action...

Ecologists block the driver who attacked the leader of the Movement in Protection of the Khimki Forest

Press Release, July 19, 2010.

The activists protecting the Khimki forest made a camp in the place of cutting of the woods and are now blocking a car of a stranger who attacked Eugenia Chirikova, the leader of the Movement in Protection of the Khimki Forest, and almost hit her with his car.
On July 16 this man drove to the camp in a silver KIA jeep (No B 104 YE 98). Coming out of the car the man began hitting Eugenia on the hands trying to make her drop her mobile phone. Then he jumped into his car and tried to knock her down with his car, Eugenia managed to escape only by a miracle...

In protection of the Khimki Forest and its defenders

Statement by the YABLOKO party, July 17, 2010.

...Environmental safety of several thousands of the residents of the Khimki area is swapped for profit, unraparable damage to the ecological system of the Moscow region. For the sake of profits the authorities are covering the criminals: the bandits who made handicapped Mikhail Bekotov, Editor-in-Chief of the Khimki Pravda paper courageously defending the Khimki Forest, have not been found.
Elections to the federal parliament will come soon. We are drawing the attention of the Muscovites and the residents of the Moscow region to the fact that the attack against the Khimki Forest is supported by the omnipresent [progovernmental] United Russia party and its leader Vladimir Putin. Thus, hey once again demonstrate that the commercial interests of the few are more important than care of the health and well-being of many...

The police finally returned impounded soft and hardware to the Baikal Ecological Wave

Press Release, July 15, 2010.

The YABLOKO congratulates the staff of the Baikal Ecological Wave who managed to prove that impounding of computers and software from their office was unlawful. The computers are returned, and the Irkutsk police brought their apologizes to the ecologists.

During the investigation it was confirmed (however, this was obvious from the beginning): the Baikal Ecological Weave used only licensed software...

Flash mob in protection of the Lake Baikal at the Red Square

Press Release. June 5, 2010. Video, photographs.

On June 5, the World Environment Day, the activists of the YABLOKO party conducted a flash mob at the Red Square. YABLOKO’s activists carried a large white banner showing the Lake Baikal chanting "Hands off of the Lake Baikal!" The same slogan was printed on their shirts. However, this march was broken by police and all the participants of the action were taken to the police station.

YABLOKO submits application dispute lawfulness of the recently adopted General Plan of Moscow Development

Press Release. June 7, 2010

Today, on June 7, YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin submitted an application to the Moscow City Court disputing lawfulness of the General Plan of Moscow Development. Mitrokhin asks the court to recognise adoption of the General Plan of Moscow Development null and void....

On June 7, 2010, YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin will start litigation in the Moscow City Court disputing lawfulness of the General Plan of Moscow Development

Press Release. June 4, 2010

On Monday, June 7, 2010, YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin will start litigation in the Moscow City Court disputing lawfulness of the General Plan of Moscow Development. “The conclusion of the state expertise was signed on December 22, 2009, a month after the draft General Plan of Moscow Development was submitted to the Moscow City Duma. This fact alone will suffice for abrogation, however, in our statement we indicate a number of other procedural violations,” Sergei Mitrokhin said...

YABLOKO’s leader to visit Nizhni Novgorod

Press Release. June 4, 2010

On Saturday, June 5, YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin will visit Nizhni Novgorod. As part of his mission, Mitrokhin and political scientists and businessmen from Nizhny Novgorod will take part in a roundtable discussion "Environmental and political situation in Russia. The upcoming elections in autumn 2010”. The event will be held at the Higher School of Economics from 09:30 to 10:40. Then Sergei Mitrokhin, will participate in a press conference for regional journalists devoted to the elections. The press conference will take place in the Interfax office (beginning at 11:00).

Then YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin and Chair YABLOKO’s Green Russia faction Acad. Alexei Yablokov will conduct a picket against the raising of the water level in the Cheboksary reservoir. Members of the environmental organization Dront will also participate in the picket...

The General Plan of Moscow Development signed by the city authorities to be disputed in court

Press Release. May 28, 2010

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin will dispute in court the General Plan of Moscow. “Procedural violations in development and adoption of the Plan were considerable. We shall apply to court as soon as the General Plan is published,” Mitrokhin said...

Mitrokhin also offered to the Moscow residents whose interests will be affected by the Plan to apply to YABLOKO for help...

Public Prosecutor to check the lawfulness of pulling down of historical buildings in Kadashi, Moscow

Press Release. May 27, 2010

On May 27, Chair of the YABLOKO party Sergei Mitrokhin forwarded a letter to V.Shevshuk, Public Prosecutor of Moscow, and A.Kibovsky, head of the Rosokhrankultura (Agency for preservation of historic and cultural heritage) with a request to stop unlawful pulling down of buildings in the territory of the Resurrection Temple in Kadashi, Moscow.

The buildings that had to be pulled down on May 24 in Kadashi are situated within the boundaries of a historical and cultural heritage zone, and any works except for preservation and regeneration are prohibited there. Mitrokhin also expressed his doubts in the lawfulness of the permit issued by Moskomnasleydiye (the Moscow Heritage Committee) to pull down buildings there...

The first suit against the State Plan of Moscow Development motioned

Press Release. May 18, 2010

The YABLOKO party has motioned a suit in the first instance court demanding to oblige the Moscow authorities to provide a state expertise the State Plan of Moscow Development. “According to our information, the State Plan of Moscow Development has not received a positive conclusion from the state expertise in spite of the fact that Mosgosekspertiza (Moscow State Expertise Agency) under the Moscow Government was mandated to conduct it. As far as we know, most experts were dissatisfied with the solution of transport problems in the new plan,” runs the statement signed by YABLOKO’s Chair Sergei Mitrokhin...

YABLOKO’s rally for protection of the Lake Baikal conducted in Ulan-Ude

Press Release, March 27, 2010

On March 27, a mass rally in protection of the Lake Baikal took place in Ulan-Ude, Buryatia. The rally was organised by YABLOKO’s branch in Buryatia and ecological organisations. About 500 people came to the rally.

The participants of the rally demanded to abrogate the Resolution of the Government of the RF No 1 on launching the Baikal Pulp Plant. The rally called the authorities to develop tourism in the area which would create new jobs for the citizens of Baikalsk, rather than creating jobs at environmentally unfriendly enterprise...

Russia’s Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin sends a letter to Public Prosecutor in defence of the Khimki forest

Press Release, March 25, 2010

Russia’s Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin asked Public Prosecutor Yury Chaika to examine whether the government’s decision to construct a highway Moscow – St.Petersburg that has to go through the Khimki forest was lawful.

In accordance with the order of the Government the lands of the Khimki forest were transferred to the category of “industrial lands”.

In his letter to Public Prosecutor Vladimir Lukin noted that the Khimki forest is a protected natural territory in accordance with the Forestry Code, thus any cuttings should be prohibited there...

Sergei Mitrokhin: Mayor of Moscow Luzhkov and head of the Moscow police Kolokoltzev are responsible for disrupting a protest motor race against construction of the nuclear power station

Press Release. March 18, 2010

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin laid responsibility responsible for disrupting a protest race against construction of the Monakovskaya nuclear power station on Mayor of Moscow Luzhkov and head of the Moscow police Kolokoltzev. “As a muscovite I feel ashamed that it was Moscow that demonstrated unlawful actions by the police to the full extent,” he said.

At present the 25 participants of the motor race are in the police station. They are accused of violating the Administrative Code of Moscow, as they have allegedly “interfered with the traffic order by means of driving in a column with slogans on their cars”, runs the protocol. The activists disagree with the police. According to Mitrokhin, this is the first case in his practice when a regional rather than federal norm is applied to the participants.

OMON and road police do not let the participants of the motor race against construction of a nuclear power station in the Nizhy Novgorod region to enter Moscow

Press Release. March 18, 2010

Special police forces (OMON) and road police have been blocking the column of the motor race against construction of a nuclear power station in the Nizhy Novgorod region at the Moscow Circular Road for 40 minutes already. YABLOKO’s activists and YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin are arrested. Some cars the police left on the road, which led to a traffic jam.

The participants of the race were stopped at the Moscow Circular Road for checking of their documents. However later a police official stated that they were stopped “because of such unsanctioned event”. Special police forces arrived probably to assist the road police in checking the documents.

YABLOKO to join a motor race against construction of a nuclear power station in the Nizhny Novgorod Region

Press Release. March 17, 2010

A rally against construction of a nuclear power station in the Nizhny Novgorod Region organised by ecological organisations and YABLOKO will take place in the centre of Moscow on March 18.

A motor race Murom – Moscow against construction of the nuclear power station started today. On March 18 YABLOKO’s activists together with party leader Sergei Mitrokhin will meet the participants of the race in the Moscow region and join the race.

“My task is to ensure that the motor column is allowed to enter Moscow, as the participants expressed their concern that the column would be stopped by Moscow,” Sergei Mitrokhin. Today protesters have been stopped by the police several times and their passport data were copied.

Officials offer apology to YABLOKO’s ecologist

Press Release. March 10, 2010

Officials from Administration of the Lomonosovsky District of the Leningrad region offered their apology to Alexander Senotrusov, deputy head of YABLOKO’s Green faction, for their intention to dismiss him from school where he had been working as a teacher and their suspension of functioning of a children’s club where he also worked. Persecutions against YABLOKO’s activist began after his interview to the NTV television channel.

On March 7, NTV released a piece devoted to the practices of unlawful construction of cottages in the natural reserves. Alexander Senotrusov told the journalists about unlawful construction at the Lebyazhiye village situated on Gulf of Finland shore.

After this the district administration began persecutions against the teacher. Local bureaucrats were going to dismiss Alexander Senotrusov as redundant and also cut off electricity in the children’s club where he worked.

YABLOKO’s action in protection of Utrish and Baikal

Press Release. February 25, 2010

A rally in protection of the Utrish national reserve park and the Baikal Lake took place in the centre of Krasnodar on February 20. The rally was organised by YABLOKO’s activist Andrei Rudomakha.

After the rally the participants marched along the main street of the city and held a second rally at the end of the march.

About 300 – 350 people took part in the action.

The leader of Gelendzhik YABLOKO is forced to quit his job because of a rally

Press Release, February 12, 2010

On January 31, 2010, Gelendzhik YABLOKO conducted a meeting of protest against destruction of the Utrish relict lagoons, where the Presidential Property Management Department planned to build a “sports and recreation complex” and Administration of the Krasnodar Area – commercial buildings. Public protest action took place by the city Administration building.

And already on February 5, Sergei Buldakov, leader of the local YABLOKO branch was informed that he was transferred to another work place located in 57 km from his current place. Alexander Umitbayaev, Director General of the Vodokanal municipal state company, where Buldakov worked informed Buldakov of this transfer.

Sergei Mitrokhin spoke at the rally for protection of Baikal

Press Release. February 13, 2010

About 700 people participated despite sever frosts in the rally for protection of Baikal in Irkutsk. Members of ecological organisations, members and supporters of YABLOKO, residents of Irkutsk and Baikalsk and CPRF members spoke against resuming of functioning of the Baikal Pulp Plant.

The rally organised by the ecological organisation The Baikal Wave and the Baikal movement was held under the slogans “To close the Baikal Pulp Plant!”, “To provide alternative jobs to the residents of Baikalsk!” and “Stop budget financing of oligarch Deripaska!”

Apple tree garden in Biryulyovo, Moscow, will be preserved

Press Release, January 25, 2010

“Apple tree garden in Biryulyovo, Moscow, will not be cut”, Vladimir Resin, head of the Moscow Construction Complex told to YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin during their meeting today. Moreover, the plot of land with the apple tree garden will be included into the natural reserve Biryulyovo Dendrary Park...

It is already the second apple tree garden saved by YABLOKO. In 2006 the party managed to stop cutting of the trees in Davydkovo district.

YABLOKO’s Political Committee: Russian state acts like an irresponsible business corporation conducting anti-environmental policies

Press Release, December 5, 2009

On December 5, 2009, YABLOKO’s Political Committee discussed the ecological policy of the government. The key report was made by Academician Alexei Yablokov, leader of the Green Russia faction. After a discussion the Committee adopted resolution “On the Anti-Environmental Policies of the Russian Authorities”.

On opening of the meeting the Political Committee commemorated the victims of the Nevsky Express railroad crash and the victims of the Perm nightclub fire by a one-minute silence.

Alexei Yablokov reported on a bad environmental situation in Russia dwelling on the most acute ecological problems and offered ways of their solution. According to the World Health Organisation, 493,000 people die annually in Russia because of ecological problems. Thus, life expectancy for men is only 59 years, which is 15 – 18 years less than in the USA and Japan. And it is even 3 – 4 years lower in the zones of environmental pollution (about 14% of the territory of the country).

Sergei Mitrokhin: “The democratic project of the country’s development is closed”

Press Release, November 30, 2009

On Saturday, November 29, 2009, a meeting of YABLOKO’s Bureau took place in Moscow. The Bureau adopted decisions on working over persuading the government not to abolish indexation of unemployment benefits, return gratuitous public transport tickets for pensioners of the Moscow Region and creation of nature reserve Utrish. The Bureau also heard the reports of the Human Rights and the Gender factions of the party.

The meeting was opened by party Chair Sergei Mitrokhin who made a report on the political situation in Russia. “It has become clear after voting on October 11 that elections as a legitimate institution that could be trusted by the society is completely ruined in Russia. This means that the democratic project of the country’s development initiated in the late 1980s has been completely closed now – and not only by the ruling elite, but by the society as well,” Mitrokhin said. According to Mitrokhin, the forthcoming YABLOKO’s congress (that will take place in December 2009) has to formulate the basis of a new democratic project for Russia.

Sergei Mitrokhin and the camera crew of the RenTV channel detained while trying to get to the Kurkino VIP village

Press release, November 16, 2009

Sergei Mitrokhin and the camera crew of the RenTV channel have been detained by the security of the Kurkino VIP village by the Valley of the Skhodnya River natural reserve. The security have detained the politician and the journalists and have called the police.

Sergei Mitorkhin and the camera crew of the RenTV channel went to the Valley of the Skhodnya River natural reserve (where an unknown VIP village was built on the permission of the ex-head of the North-Western District of Moscow Viktor Kozlov) so that to study the situation with returning of the plot unlawfully granted to General Major of the interior Anatoli Petukhov. On November 5, 2009, the Moscow City Court confirmed the decision of the Tushino District Court on abuse of authority by Kozlov. This motion envisages retrieval of this plot amounting to 3,688 sq m, also court rulings on other plots of the natural reserve unlawfully given for construction of cottages have to appear shortly.

The Moscow City Court ruled that granting a plot of land to the police top official in the nature reserve park was unlawful

Press release, November 10, 2009

On November 5, 2009, the Moscow City Court left in force the decision of the Tushino District Court regarding abuse of rank by the dismissed head of the North-Western Administrative District of Moscow Viktor Kozlov, who unlawfully granted 3,688 sq.m of land in the natural preservation zone of the Valley of the Skhodnya River Park for lease to the ex-top officer of the interior General Major Anatoly Petukhov.

According to the ruling of the court, the plot of land granted on unlawful basis Petukhov has to be retrieved. The decision is final and binding.

Muscovites together with YABLOKO preserved Sadovniki park

Press Release, September 9, 2009

Two resolutions of the Moscow Government allowing for construction works in Sadovniki park, Moscow, were recalled.

It is not the first time that the authorities allow construction works in the park and the residents of the area together with the YABLOKO party oppose it. Due to the efforts of the initiative group of the residents of the area and YABLOKO’s support, construction works in the park did not start and moreover were prohibited.

One more Moscow park protected by YABLOKO

Press Release June 29, 2009
The Prefect’s Office of the Southern District of Moscow cancelled its resolution on construction of a restaurant on the territory of the Bitsevsky park. Such a statement has been made by an official from the Prefect’s Office today during a protest action against such construction.

YABLOKO disrupted the plans on elimination of a specially protected natural territory in Moscow

Press Release June 24, 2009
Today the Moscow City Duma has declined amendments into the draft law “On Specially Protected Natural Territories in Moscow” that would allow to conduct once in three years the so-called “corrections” [i.e. reductions] of such natural zones not exceeding 1 per cent of the territory. To prove to the deputies that such an initiative will inevitably lead to shrinking of forests and parks Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of the YABLOKO party and its faction in the Moscow Duma, visited on June 22 with deputy’s inspection one of such specially protected natural territories (The Valley of the Riva Skhadnaya in Kurkino), where a nameless elite settlement is situated.

500 people came to the meeting for protection of Bitsevsky Forest in Moscow
Press Release. June 3, 2009

In the evening on June 2, 2009, over 500 activists participated in the protest action for the protection of Bitsevsky Forest against construction of a cafe on a safeguarded territory.

The Green Russia and Global Nuclear Legacy
Press Release, June 1, 2009

The leaders of the Green Russia faction of the YABLOKO party Alexei Yablokov and Alexander Nikitin participated in the meeting of the Global Nuclear Legacy project in Budapest on May 29-31. Over 40 representatives of the anti-nuclear movement from the USA, Western and Eastern Europe, and the CIS countries came to Budapest. The meeting joined together victims of the nuclear industry, ecologists and specialists from the nuclear sphere who openly inform the society of the dangers of the industry.

The Committee for the Protection of Muscovites demands the resettlement of residents from apartment buildings contaminated by phenol
Press release, July 22, 2004

Over 50 people gathered today at the protest meeting organised by the Committee for the Protection of Muscovites by the Mayor's office in Moscow. Activists from the Committee as well as residents from the Metrogorodok district of Moscow participated in the meeting demanding the adoption of measures to resettle residents from phenol-contaminated apartment blocks, i.e. residential premises with covering made from materials emitting dangerous levels of phenol gas.

Ministry of Nuclear Power Ready to Finance Environmental Programs in Chelyabinsk Region
Press release, October 31, 2003

...the Ministry is willing to "discuss the draft specific environmental program aimed at rehabilitating the territories contaminated due to operations of Mayak plant, including evacuation of the residents of Muslyumovo and Tatarskaya Karabolka towns".

Suspension of the operations of a copper-smelting plant is a powerful signal to environment polluters
Press release, June 27, 2003

Deputy of the State Duma Sergei Mitrokhin (the YABLOKO faction) stated that he was satisfied with the decision of the supreme state inspector for control over natural resources of the Ural Federal district Nikolai Krupinin who issued a warrant to suspend the operations of the Krabash Copper-Smelting Plant from June 27, 2003.

The State Duma turned down the amendment granting tax privileges to environmental bodies
Press release, June 21, 2003

On Friday, June 20, 2003, the State Duma refused to grant a tax break on the property of organisations protecting and caring for territories with an enhanced regime of environmental protection.

YABLOKO determines the directions of Russia's environmental policy and calls on the State Duma to ratify the Kyoto Protocol
Press release, June 5, 2003

In addition to the prospects of ratification and entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, the participants of the Round Table discussed a range of problems related to Russia’s environmental policy.

Deputy Mitrokhin manages to make the law-enforcement agencies initiate criminal proceedings for environmental pollution
Press Release, May 27, 2003

Criminal proceedings in accordance with Article 246 of the Criminal Code of the RF (violation of environmental protection regulations at work) were started by the Chelyabinsk Prosecutor for Environmental Protection for "investigation of all the circumstances and reasons for environmental pollution in the city of Krabash ."

Publications

The YABLOKO party starts litigation disputing lawfulness of the General Plan for Moscow Development until 2025

Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July 27, 2010.

The Moscow City Court appointed hearings of the YABLOKO party law suit disputing lawfulness of the General Plan of Moscow Development until 2025 on August 9. The trial will be open for public. "I have filed this lawsuit personally as a citizen, whose rights are violated by the law. If we translate this in short from the legal language, [the Plan] affects the following rights: driving around the city without traffic jams, breathing clean air, buying housing at affordable prices and walking around historical places of the city. All these rights were violated by the developers of the law to fill Moscow with office and trade premises,” Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of the YABLOKO party, said yesterday. Mitrokhin also explained, "This trend violates my right to a healthy environment, not only a natural, but also architectural and technological environment”...

Russian and European Integration

Speech by Sergei Mitrokhin
Liberal International Executive Committee
Berlin, June 11, 2010

Announcing a policy towards modernisation in Russia President of Russia put himself in line with a number of Russian rulers-reformers who aspired to perform radical transformations in the country. Some specific traits of this policy resemble those of his predecessors. The President understands modernisation primarily as acceleration of scientific and technological development. With some reservations about the need for political reform, the latter look like a number of quite shallow and very systematic activities...

The Battle for Khimki Forest. By Yevgenia Chirikova. www.opendemocracy.net
17 March 2010

The plan to construct a section of the new Moscow-St.Petersburg motorway through the legally-protected Khimki Forest Park will destroy a rare eco-system. Dogged local resistance has turned this into a national, even international issue. But it has not derailed the plan...

Environmentally unfriendly bulbs versus nuclear power stations?

Acad.Alexei Yablokov’s blog at the Echo Moskvi web-site

December 7, 2009

I was wondering why our government suddenly made a complete ban on incandescent electric bulbs its prime concern (Law of the RF No 261-FZ “On Energy Saving and Raising of Energy Efficiency and on Introduction of Changes into Some Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” of November 23, 2009).

And recently I have heard the news that Europe has been closing production of incandescent electric lamps of the first generation (luminescent, with mercury) – the very lamps that have to replace our incandescent electric bulbs. And these environmentally unfriendly productions are offered cheaply to those who would be eager to buy them. Let us make a simple calculation...

50 Protest Phenol Gas
The Moscow Times, July 22, 2004

"We technically only had permission to demonstrate at Pushkin Square," said one of the protest organizers, Ilya Yashin, a Yabloko party official. "But we felt we had a right ... to make our voices heard."

YABLOKO to Propose Amendments to the Forestry Code
RIA "OREANDA", April 5, 2004

By and large, the RF Ministry of Natural Resources and the Russian Democratic Party "Yabloko" will cooperate on environment protection and efficient nature management.

Chemical Funds
Associated Press, March 17, 2004
MOSCOW (AP) -- Environmental and human rights activists criticized the implementation of Russia's chemical disarmament program Tuesday, accusing authorities of mismanaging funds and endangering lives by skimping on safety and security measures.

Nuclear Power Ministry and Green Cross in the Same Team.
By Sergei Leskov, Izvestia, December 19, 2003

The President discussed with the representatives of the nuclear department and the ecologists the problems of burying spent nuclear fuel, where opinions were divided irreconcilably.

Roll-call voting in the State Duma For the adoption of amendments into the Forestry Code of the Russian Federation (simplyfying the transfer of forests of the 1st category into non-forest categories). Third Reading.
November 21, 2003 16:04:10

Video. Protest action by YABLOKO and ecologists agianst amendments to the Forestry Code allowing for the transfer of forests from the top category to the lower categories. The State Duma. October 8, 2003. 11 min 4 sek, 256 Ęáčň/ńĺę - 49 Ěáŕéň, 128 Ęáčň/ńĺę - 18 Ěáŕéň (RealPlayer required)

Krasnoyarsk Territory. The Legislative Assembly approves the initiative to restrict the transfer of forestry areas to other categories of fields
Regions.Ru, March 3, 2003
(Archive)
According to RIA Press-Line information agency today, on March 3, 3003 members of the permanent Commission on Natural Resources, Ecology and Protection of Nature of the Legislative Assembly of Krasnoyarsk Territory supported the draft law of the State Duma deputy Sergei Mitrokhin.

Ministry of Nuclear Power Ready to Finance Environmental Programmes in Chelyabinsk Region
RIA "OREANDA", November 3, 2003

The deputy minister's letter is the Ministry's official response to Mitrokhin's appeal to the Ministry to allot money to move people away from nuclear-contaminated areas in Chelyabinsk region.

Deputy Mitrokhin demands an investigation into the situation around the methanol terminal in Azov
FMBusiness, September 5, 2003

According to the documents, a number of federal legislative acts, such as the Law "On Environmental Protection ", the Law "On Environmental Expertise", the Provisions on the assessment of the impact on the environment and legislation regulating construction work were violated during the design and construction of the terminal in Azov.

Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol Will Help Russia to Attract Vast Investments into Industry
RIA Novosti, September 8, 2003

"Now we cannot achieve such a capacity, with our outdated equipment. But when innovations are introduced, greenhouse gas emissions will decrease significantly," the expert believes.

Grigory Yavlinsky called for an increase in state ecological controls
Vesti Programme, RTR channel, June 5, 2003

In particular, in autumn 2003 YABLOKO is going to submit to the State Duma the Kyoto Protocol for ratification.

Project Director: Vyacheslav Erohin e-mail: admin@yabloko.ru Director: Olga Radayeva, e-mail: english@yabloko.ru

Administrator: Vlad Smirnov, e-mail: vladislav.smirnov@yabloko.ru