Hello comrades!
I am sending this letter to the Network with the hope that you would act
as one - support those who fight ecological degradation, corrupted power
and neonazi violence and now got into serious troubles because of their
activities.
It is time to show our solidarity now: campaigns, actions at russian
embassies, fundraising and info- events, spreading the information - any
help is much appreciated.
Below is the text that you can also read here:
http://community.livejournal.com/himki_protest/3338.html
*** If you have any ideas or donations or reports from solidarity actions,
please, let me know - trespasser@cryptodrunks.net ***
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MOSCOW / KHIMKI - THE BATTLE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION 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 the city which is called 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
«Khimkinskaya Pravda» (Khimki Truth) newspaper, was savagely beaten in
front of his home. The attack was clearly related to his criticism of
local authorities and the highway being built. 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 on July 14, when the logging was to begin.
Eco-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 by 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 hired 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
against this highway being built and the forest being illegally destroyed,
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=4KBYKd8W6p8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqQFtJMBPbс
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OUR FRIENDS HAVE BEEN ILLEGALLY ARRESTED
In the morning of July, 29 antifascist Alexei Gaskarov was called in for a
conversation to the local Internal Affairs Department. From there he was
passed on to Extremism Department officers and taken away in the unknown
destination. Most of the regulations of the law that determines the
operation policy for the police have been violated. No relatives have been
informed, no notice has been served to state the fact of the arrest. That
very evening antifascist Maxim Solopov has been called in for a
conversation by Okhotny Ryad metro station after the "Russian News
Service" radio broadcast. Maxim has come to the meeting spot but no
conversation has taken place. He was handed into a car and brought to
Khimki. At night flats of Gaskarov and Solopov have been searched. Alexei
Gaskarov's flat was searched with no warrant and due papers being
provided, without assets being listed and with no attesting witness.
We clearly understand why this were Alexei and Maxim who got arrested.
They are well known in public and are taking responsibility for being
publicly open. They never concealed their views, appeared both in press
and on the radio. They got arrested being the only antifascists well known
to the police. Now the police is under pressure from the administration of
the president, that's why at least someone needed to be arrested.
As Alexei's and Maxim's faces are known to the police and mass media this
would have been too stupid of them to take part in violent actions.
We clearly understand that to ask for the guys to be released is to cry
for the moon no matter how hard we long for it. We appeal for the
legitimacy although this institution in our country is being defied by the
guardians of law themselves. We demand that the legal procedure against
our friends is not turned into demonstrative judicatory. We urge that mass
media is allowed access to the procedure. We demand that your laws are
being observed by yourselves.
We know that the truth is ours and we will break through.
On July, 31 the first closed judicial session took place in Khimki. Nobody
was allowed in. The building was surrounded by bunches of riot police
officers, water cannon trucks with also a number of ambulances and police
cars around. After 48 hours of the guys being detained, the charge should
have been brought against Alexei and Maxim today but they still haven't
been accused and the judicial session has been postponed until Tuesday,
August, 3 being qualified by the judge as a "tough" one.
It has also come to light that their protocols state that the guys were
detained on the crime site which contravenes to the original police
statement which read that no one was arrested after the incident. This
gives evidence that the cases are being invented.
We're disturbed by the way the procedures are progressing and would
appreciate any international support.
Now the funds are being raised for the lawyers and your help would be
critical here.
WEB MONEY TRANSFER -
http://www.antifa.ru/out.php?url=http://www.wmtransfer.com/eng/
R113104516303 — RUSSIAN RUBLES
Z170280498291 — $
E318901103117 — EURO
A bank account will be opened as soon as possible.
More information to follow.
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A Report from a local newspaper «Kommersant»
"Forest Chopped Down, Khimki Smashed Up"
is worth reading and can be found here:
http://community.livejournal.com/himki_protest/3338.html
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