Translated material
Uzhrish
Irina Lagunina: The Arbitration Court of the Krasnodar Territory recognized the road to the residence of the Presidential administrations, which was planned to be built on the territory of the Utrish reserve in the Krasnodar Territory, illegal. Ecologists who have filed a lawsuit call the court’s decision, and hopes that the plans for the construction of the next “physical education complex”, as the presidential cottage is officially called, will be finally frozen. Says Lyubov Chizhova.
Lyubov Chizhova: A lawsuit in the Arbitration Court of the Krasnodar Territory filed an ecological shift in the North Caucasus. The aim of the lawsuit was to recognize the order of the regional department of natural resources on the approval of the state environmental examination of the Forestry Road project, which passes through a unique forest. The road, as we have repeatedly told in our programs, was supposed to go to the next presidential cottage-a fitness and health complex, which wanted to build the Presidential managers on the territory of a unique reserve of Utrishh in the Krasnodar Territory. Ecologists fought for a long time to make the exterior the status of a reserve. Which happened in 2010. True, particularly valuable lands were brought from the reserve - right in its center, and there they planned to build another presidential palace. The significance of a judicial victory, which recognized the construction of the road illegal, says Andrei Rudomakh, the head of the ecological shift in the North Caucasus ...
Andrey Rudomakh: The situation is quite long. This project of the road to the presidential dacha at Utrish, which was called a fire forestry road for disguise, was called. Then they tried to build this road without any examination, which was a gross violation of the law, it faced the resistance of the public, which was forced to support the prosecutor's office, the police, Rosarchnadzor and the construction of the road closed. After that, realizing that it was not possible to build it in such a way, the authorities decided to conduct an examination of the ecological road. At all stages of the conduct, all this was done as illegally. The procedure of public hearings was falsified when officials, employees of municipal services were caught up into the hall and did not allow the public. Even the World Wildlife Foundation, which was preparing the project of the reserve, on which they were going to build this road.
After that, when the materials of this road appeared in the public domain during the preparation of the hearings, we conducted a public examination of the environmental project, which clearly showed that the construction is unacceptable. The examination materials were sent everywhere, to all bodies, including the Department of Natural Resources of the Krasnodar Territory. After that, the Department conducted his own examination of the environmental. At the same time, he did not notify the ecological watch that he was conducting, and other organizations, the examination was made secretly. In addition, our public examination was not taken into account, which was a prerequisite for the law. When all this happened, we disputed in the Arbitration Court of the Krasnodar Territory. In the first instance, the court did not recognize our requirements justified. We challenged this in the cassation instance. As a result, the consideration of this case was returned to the court of first instance. And he, having again examined our claim, satisfied him. Thus, now the examination conducted by the Department of Natural Resources of the Krasnodar Territory is illegal. And if they want to build something in Utrish, they will have to conduct a procedure for public hearings in a new way, conduct a new examination and this time they will be required to take into account the results of our examination.
Thus, now the construction of this road is blocked enough for a long time.
Lyubov Chizhova: But in general, it is surprising that the court made such a decision. Why do you think this happened?
Andrey Rudomakh: It's hard to say. Honestly, we were preparing that everything would go again in the same circle, nevertheless, it happened. I don’t know, to be honest, for us this is a mystery, because the courts in our country have long been independent, they are completely controlled by the authorities. There are miracles that sometimes they make fair decisions.
Lyubov Chizhova: What is the importance of this victory, how can all be reflected in the fate of Utrish?
Andrei Rudomakh: The situation is such that they cannot build a cottage until the construction of this road has begun. When we met representatives of the fund who first tried to buy us, then threatened us, they directly said that they categorically needed this road to start building the residence itself. Therefore, this road is the key to all actions around the residence. Until the road is built, the construction of the residence itself will not begin. We hope that in general this project turned out to be frozen, they will not be able to legalize it again.
Lyubov Chizhova: It was the head of the environmental shift in the North Caucasus Andrei Rudomakh. Maria Ruzina from the “Save Utrish” movement, working in the reserve for more than 16 years, is very glad to decide the Arbitration Court of the Krasnodar Territory. Why it is accepted - Maria also does not understand ... ..
Maria Ruzina: Here we can say that it, of course, is not final. This is not a victory - this is a huge step towards a real victory. The fact is that colleagues from Ekovakhta managed to do something on the verge of life and fiction - to achieve a change in a court decision in the Kuban, in the Krasnodar Territory. This, in my opinion, is almost impossible. And the fact that the barrier has now been set up to any construction actions, legal construction actions, this means that it has become easier to breathe. And much depends on the activity of activity further. It seems that in connection with the situation with the elections, with such a large civilian rise, the authorities began to back down. It costs a lot.
Lyubov Chizhova: What is happening on Utrish now, what is the situation, what is happening in the reserve, does the environmental post work there?
Maria Ruzina: Yes, an ecological post is worth it. We would be very happy to remove it and we will certainly do it when it is really unnecessary when there will be complete confidence that the construction cannot continue. Now it is temporary freedom. Now, I think this is a few prematurely. Literally in the last month, local officials began to come to the environmental post before the decision, who began to tighten the nuts, warning that if suddenly environmental activists had to go into the forest, they will be mercilessly fined. This very surprised the activists, because in the summer season and the autumn administration of the reserve turned to assistance in cleaning the coast, monitoring it. Let them not give passes, but at least the volunteers always had the opportunity to move freely along the reserve. And in fact, the significance of their activity was not questioned. This is the twisting of the nuts literally in the last month. After they heard about the last court decision, no such requirements were raised anymore. Passing employees of reserves and forest officials politely talked at the environmental post, including even the director of the reserve.
Lyubov Chizhova: Maria, and what do you associate with what happened, that they began to treat you humanly?
Maria Ruzina: You know, with regard to specialists with biological, forestry education working in the reserve and even in the administration of the region, I think that nevertheless, as officials, they had the obligation to maintain official policy. But as in biologists and some as scientists, the soul inside was sick and hurt. Previously, they did not have the opportunity to openly express support, and even now they are not expressing too openly. But probably, all experts perfectly understand the terrible threat that threatened the Utrish and continues to threaten if this construction happens.
Lyubov Chizhova: How do you assess the prospects for the construction of the next physical education and recreation complex of the Presidential Affairs Management?
Maria Ruzina: I believe that now a lot depends on the activity of civil society, not only on environmentalists. It will be possible to achieve new and honest elections, it will be possible to achieve changes in power and all these plans will be destroyed, this will be completely impossible. If everything remains as before, then, unfortunately, this is a temporary respite, everything will begin in a new way.
Lyubov Chizhova: said the head of the movement “Save Ubrish”, biologist Maria Ruzina. Andrei Rudomakh from the ecological shift in the North Caucasus says that there is no time to relax and rejoice at a judicial victory associated with the Utrish: the Krasnodar Territory authorities realize a record number of illegal ones. anti -ecological projects that need to be fought ....
Andrei Rudomakh: Let's say there are two greatest threats that are now-this is traditional what is happening around the 2014 Olympics in Sochi-continuous legal and environmental lawlessness. Also now another threat comparable in scale has hung over the Caucasian reserve-this is the construction of the resort of Laga-Naki within the Krasnodar Territory and the Republic of Adygea. Within the framework of this project, they plan to build up the Laga-Naki plateau, located in the Caucasian reserves and on the territory of the world of natural heritage with ski structures. Now this is a priority direction. We do our best to prevent it.
Lyubov Chizhova: What exactly are you doing? Do you appeal to the courts, to UNESCO, what actions are you taking?
Andrei Rudomakh: They just did not appeal to the courts, because there are no practical actions yet. I hope that UNESCO with his experts is still hope for this instance, because at the Russian level it is difficult to stop something, even if it is completely illegal.
Lyubov Chizhova: How do you interact with representatives of the authorities of the Krasnodar Territory, with officials?
Andrei Rudomakh: Relations are very complicated with the administration of the Krasnodar Territory, even, perhaps, more difficult than with federal officials. Because in addition to being involved in federal projects of anti -ecological, in violation of laws, the mass of dangerous projects proceeds from the administration of the Krasnodar Territory itself.
Lyubov Chizhova: For example, what are these projects?
Andrei Rudomakh: Including the personal cottage of Alexander Tkachev on the coast, these are many projects in the framework of the Olympics, which are coming from the Karian administration. The port project is actively lobbying. Oil terminals in Yeysk, a ferry lobbying for transportation of dangerous waste from Yeysk to Ukraine. This is a very long list of initiatives, pernicious for nature, proceeds from the administration. Since we interfere hard, they really do not like us.
Lyubov Chizhova: What is this dislike of?
Andrei Rudomakh: The last fact is that our activists conducted an action to demolish the illegally built fence around the cottage Alexander Tkachev, and for the assurances of all government agencies of this fence there is no officially there. So around a non -existent fence, which illegally protects the forest fund, is now a criminal case. There is a danger that several of our activists can become accused in this case. This is one of the latest manifestations.
Lyubov Chizhova: What threatens them?
Andrey Rudomakh: It's hard for me to say. I think that the whole thing will fall apart, because there are no legal grounds there. I think this is done in order to create a pressure factor. They perfectly understand that there are no prospects, but nevertheless, the very fact of initiating a criminal case, challenges for interrogations and everything else. The task is one in order to intimidate and discourage the desire to do what we do.
Lyubov Chizhova: After the elections in Moscow, in St. Petersburg, and other cities, the opposition rallies and just people who disagree with the results of the elections, with the requirements of the change of power, with the requirements of revision of the election results were held. What happened in Krasnodar, and if the promotions and rallies took place, are any environmental slogans put forward there?
Andrei Rudomakh: For example, when I played at a rally in Krasnodar, I spoke about these dachas of Putin. How can a person who is involved in the corruption of large -scale, such as a palace, built mostly for budget money, as a personal resort in the lunar meadow, built in the Caucasian Reserve, can be selected in the presidency. Now for Putin they are building an Olympic residence in Krasnaya Polyana. From my point of view, such people do not have any moral right. What to get out of the presidency, generally occupy any positions.
Lyubov Chizhova: The head of the ecological shift in the North Caucasus said Andrei Rudomakh. Defenders of nature from the Krasnodar Territory continue the campaign against the construction of residence on the Black Sea coast for senior federal and local officials.
Lyubov Chizhova: A lawsuit in the Arbitration Court of the Krasnodar Territory filed an ecological shift in the North Caucasus. The aim of the lawsuit was to recognize the order of the regional department of natural resources on the approval of the state environmental examination of the Forestry Road project, which passes through a unique forest. The road, as we have repeatedly told in our programs, was supposed to go to the next presidential cottage-a fitness and health complex, which wanted to build the Presidential managers on the territory of a unique reserve of Utrishh in the Krasnodar Territory. Ecologists fought for a long time to make the exterior the status of a reserve. Which happened in 2010. True, particularly valuable lands were brought from the reserve - right in its center, and there they planned to build another presidential palace. The significance of a judicial victory, which recognized the construction of the road illegal, says Andrei Rudomakh, the head of the ecological shift in the North Caucasus ...
Andrey Rudomakh: The situation is quite long. This project of the road to the presidential dacha at Utrish, which was called a fire forestry road for disguise, was called. Then they tried to build this road without any examination, which was a gross violation of the law, it faced the resistance of the public, which was forced to support the prosecutor's office, the police, Rosarchnadzor and the construction of the road closed. After that, realizing that it was not possible to build it in such a way, the authorities decided to conduct an examination of the ecological road. At all stages of the conduct, all this was done as illegally. The procedure of public hearings was falsified when officials, employees of municipal services were caught up into the hall and did not allow the public. Even the World Wildlife Foundation, which was preparing the project of the reserve, on which they were going to build this road.
After that, when the materials of this road appeared in the public domain during the preparation of the hearings, we conducted a public examination of the environmental project, which clearly showed that the construction is unacceptable. The examination materials were sent everywhere, to all bodies, including the Department of Natural Resources of the Krasnodar Territory. After that, the Department conducted his own examination of the environmental. At the same time, he did not notify the ecological watch that he was conducting, and other organizations, the examination was made secretly. In addition, our public examination was not taken into account, which was a prerequisite for the law. When all this happened, we disputed in the Arbitration Court of the Krasnodar Territory. In the first instance, the court did not recognize our requirements justified. We challenged this in the cassation instance. As a result, the consideration of this case was returned to the court of first instance. And he, having again examined our claim, satisfied him. Thus, now the examination conducted by the Department of Natural Resources of the Krasnodar Territory is illegal. And if they want to build something in Utrish, they will have to conduct a procedure for public hearings in a new way, conduct a new examination and this time they will be required to take into account the results of our examination.
Thus, now the construction of this road is blocked enough for a long time.
Lyubov Chizhova: But in general, it is surprising that the court made such a decision. Why do you think this happened?
Andrey Rudomakh: It's hard to say. Honestly, we were preparing that everything would go again in the same circle, nevertheless, it happened. I don’t know, to be honest, for us this is a mystery, because the courts in our country have long been independent, they are completely controlled by the authorities. There are miracles that sometimes they make fair decisions.
Lyubov Chizhova: What is the importance of this victory, how can all be reflected in the fate of Utrish?
Andrei Rudomakh: The situation is such that they cannot build a cottage until the construction of this road has begun. When we met representatives of the fund who first tried to buy us, then threatened us, they directly said that they categorically needed this road to start building the residence itself. Therefore, this road is the key to all actions around the residence. Until the road is built, the construction of the residence itself will not begin. We hope that in general this project turned out to be frozen, they will not be able to legalize it again.
Lyubov Chizhova: It was the head of the environmental shift in the North Caucasus Andrei Rudomakh. Maria Ruzina from the “Save Utrish” movement, working in the reserve for more than 16 years, is very glad to decide the Arbitration Court of the Krasnodar Territory. Why it is accepted - Maria also does not understand ... ..
Maria Ruzina: Here we can say that it, of course, is not final. This is not a victory - this is a huge step towards a real victory. The fact is that colleagues from Ekovakhta managed to do something on the verge of life and fiction - to achieve a change in a court decision in the Kuban, in the Krasnodar Territory. This, in my opinion, is almost impossible. And the fact that the barrier has now been set up to any construction actions, legal construction actions, this means that it has become easier to breathe. And much depends on the activity of activity further. It seems that in connection with the situation with the elections, with such a large civilian rise, the authorities began to back down. It costs a lot.
Lyubov Chizhova: What is happening on Utrish now, what is the situation, what is happening in the reserve, does the environmental post work there?
Maria Ruzina: Yes, an ecological post is worth it. We would be very happy to remove it and we will certainly do it when it is really unnecessary when there will be complete confidence that the construction cannot continue. Now it is temporary freedom. Now, I think this is a few prematurely. Literally in the last month, local officials began to come to the environmental post before the decision, who began to tighten the nuts, warning that if suddenly environmental activists had to go into the forest, they will be mercilessly fined. This very surprised the activists, because in the summer season and the autumn administration of the reserve turned to assistance in cleaning the coast, monitoring it. Let them not give passes, but at least the volunteers always had the opportunity to move freely along the reserve. And in fact, the significance of their activity was not questioned. This is the twisting of the nuts literally in the last month. After they heard about the last court decision, no such requirements were raised anymore. Passing employees of reserves and forest officials politely talked at the environmental post, including even the director of the reserve.
Lyubov Chizhova: Maria, and what do you associate with what happened, that they began to treat you humanly?
Maria Ruzina: You know, with regard to specialists with biological, forestry education working in the reserve and even in the administration of the region, I think that nevertheless, as officials, they had the obligation to maintain official policy. But as in biologists and some as scientists, the soul inside was sick and hurt. Previously, they did not have the opportunity to openly express support, and even now they are not expressing too openly. But probably, all experts perfectly understand the terrible threat that threatened the Utrish and continues to threaten if this construction happens.
Lyubov Chizhova: How do you assess the prospects for the construction of the next physical education and recreation complex of the Presidential Affairs Management?
Maria Ruzina: I believe that now a lot depends on the activity of civil society, not only on environmentalists. It will be possible to achieve new and honest elections, it will be possible to achieve changes in power and all these plans will be destroyed, this will be completely impossible. If everything remains as before, then, unfortunately, this is a temporary respite, everything will begin in a new way.
Lyubov Chizhova: said the head of the movement “Save Ubrish”, biologist Maria Ruzina. Andrei Rudomakh from the ecological shift in the North Caucasus says that there is no time to relax and rejoice at a judicial victory associated with the Utrish: the Krasnodar Territory authorities realize a record number of illegal ones. anti -ecological projects that need to be fought ....
Andrei Rudomakh: Let's say there are two greatest threats that are now-this is traditional what is happening around the 2014 Olympics in Sochi-continuous legal and environmental lawlessness. Also now another threat comparable in scale has hung over the Caucasian reserve-this is the construction of the resort of Laga-Naki within the Krasnodar Territory and the Republic of Adygea. Within the framework of this project, they plan to build up the Laga-Naki plateau, located in the Caucasian reserves and on the territory of the world of natural heritage with ski structures. Now this is a priority direction. We do our best to prevent it.
Lyubov Chizhova: What exactly are you doing? Do you appeal to the courts, to UNESCO, what actions are you taking?
Andrei Rudomakh: They just did not appeal to the courts, because there are no practical actions yet. I hope that UNESCO with his experts is still hope for this instance, because at the Russian level it is difficult to stop something, even if it is completely illegal.
Lyubov Chizhova: How do you interact with representatives of the authorities of the Krasnodar Territory, with officials?
Andrei Rudomakh: Relations are very complicated with the administration of the Krasnodar Territory, even, perhaps, more difficult than with federal officials. Because in addition to being involved in federal projects of anti -ecological, in violation of laws, the mass of dangerous projects proceeds from the administration of the Krasnodar Territory itself.
Lyubov Chizhova: For example, what are these projects?
Andrei Rudomakh: Including the personal cottage of Alexander Tkachev on the coast, these are many projects in the framework of the Olympics, which are coming from the Karian administration. The port project is actively lobbying. Oil terminals in Yeysk, a ferry lobbying for transportation of dangerous waste from Yeysk to Ukraine. This is a very long list of initiatives, pernicious for nature, proceeds from the administration. Since we interfere hard, they really do not like us.
Lyubov Chizhova: What is this dislike of?
Andrei Rudomakh: The last fact is that our activists conducted an action to demolish the illegally built fence around the cottage Alexander Tkachev, and for the assurances of all government agencies of this fence there is no officially there. So around a non -existent fence, which illegally protects the forest fund, is now a criminal case. There is a danger that several of our activists can become accused in this case. This is one of the latest manifestations.
Lyubov Chizhova: What threatens them?
Andrey Rudomakh: It's hard for me to say. I think that the whole thing will fall apart, because there are no legal grounds there. I think this is done in order to create a pressure factor. They perfectly understand that there are no prospects, but nevertheless, the very fact of initiating a criminal case, challenges for interrogations and everything else. The task is one in order to intimidate and discourage the desire to do what we do.
Lyubov Chizhova: After the elections in Moscow, in St. Petersburg, and other cities, the opposition rallies and just people who disagree with the results of the elections, with the requirements of the change of power, with the requirements of revision of the election results were held. What happened in Krasnodar, and if the promotions and rallies took place, are any environmental slogans put forward there?
Andrei Rudomakh: For example, when I played at a rally in Krasnodar, I spoke about these dachas of Putin. How can a person who is involved in the corruption of large -scale, such as a palace, built mostly for budget money, as a personal resort in the lunar meadow, built in the Caucasian Reserve, can be selected in the presidency. Now for Putin they are building an Olympic residence in Krasnaya Polyana. From my point of view, such people do not have any moral right. What to get out of the presidency, generally occupy any positions.
Lyubov Chizhova: The head of the ecological shift in the North Caucasus said Andrei Rudomakh. Defenders of nature from the Krasnodar Territory continue the campaign against the construction of residence on the Black Sea coast for senior federal and local officials.