Express outrage

On August 16, from 18.30 to 20.00, a rally in defense of the Khimki Forest will be held in Moscow at the monument to Griboyedov. Leaders and activists of the Movement for the Defense of the Khimki Forest, Solidarity, Left Front, Yabloko, Greenpeace, WWF, human rights organizations, and initiative groups in defense of the ecology of Moscow and the Moscow region will come and speak at the rally. The rally is held without political symbols. The event will include a photo exhibition dedicated to the protection of the Khimki Forest. Participants will be able to receive newspapers and leaflets with important information about plans to cut down forests near Moscow.

Those gathered will express their indignation at the ongoing barbaric destruction of the Khimki forest for the toll highway, attempts to cut down the Left Bank oak grove in Khimki and reprisals against activists defending them. They will demand the immediate cessation of illegal logging and all work on the construction of the highway, the release of anti-fascists Alexei Gaskarov and Maxim Solopov, detained on false charges of the defeat of the Khimki administration on July 28, as well as the punishment of those responsible for the illegal detentions and beatings of environmental activists and journalists who participated in the defense of Khimki forests. Questions will also be raised about the complete deforestation of the forest belt of Moscow, which is being prepared in secret from the population, according to the same scheme as the Khimki forest (construction of a toll highway + commercial development of forests along it) and about the pollution of Lake Baikal, the claim of environmentalists for which was rejected by the Supreme Court on August 12 .