The HRC asked the Prosecutor General's Office to conduct an investigation in connection with the dispersal of the camp of defenders of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain

The head of the Human Rights Council under the President (HRC), Valery Fadeev, asked the Prosecutor General's Office to check the legality of the actions of the employees of the committee of natural resources of the Volgograd region, who dispersed the camp of the defenders of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain. This was reported on the website of the HRC.

The activists, according to the HRC, set up tents where it is allowed and "planned to protest peacefully and without loudspeakers" against the construction of the highway.

“However, officials of the Committee of Natural Resources, Forestry and Ecology of the Volgograd Region, with the support of the police, arrived at the site of the kerchief camp,

they seized the tents by force and drew up protocols on violations of the park regime, although the people did not commit any violations”

, the statement says.

HRC experts also believe that the construction of the route is contrary, in particular, to the laws “On Specially Protected Natural Territories”, “On Environmental Protection” and “On Wildlife”. The same opinion is shared by the Russian Geographical Society and Rosprirodnadzor, the Council notes.

In addition, the HRC believes that the plans to build the road have caused a wide public outcry, so the project may cause mass protests from the population.

The police and the committee of natural resources of the Volgograd region dispersed the camp of the defenders of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain on August 10. Activists say that during the construction of the route, it is planned to cut down several tens of thousands of trees, including part of the oak grove of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

The Volga Interregional Environmental Prosecutor's Office came to the conclusion that the construction of the bridge was contrary to regional legislation. The agency also issued a warning and a protest to the EKS developer company.

from the United Russia faction in the regional legislature was expelled For speaking out against the construction of the highway , Alexander Osipov, a deputy of the Volgograd Regional Duma, . The party claimed that this was done because of the appeal of the inhabitants of the region, who asked to "influence the deputy, preventing the construction of an important highway."