Russian Opposition Gathers for Summer Party in Moscow's Threatened Khimki Forest

by Jess Leber · 2011-06-21 13:42:00 UTC
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The last year has been mostly hardship for Russia's Khimki Forest defenders—replete with beatings, bloody noses, bulldozers and bullying foreign corporations. Change.org members are well aware of their plight, with more than 23,000 of you supporting their campaign to end the construction corporation Vinci's involvement in the forest's destruction.

In a country where protest is too frequently repressed, the last four days have been a big party— a time for peace and celebration in Khimki Forest for 2,000 anti-corruption supporters who have come to show their voice. The Washington Post called it Russia's "Woodstock" moment.

Now, the celebration is over. And the beat goes on.

Hardly do the dogged Khimki Forest defenders ever rest a beat. After participating in the celebration, they jetted off to Paris and Berlin to continue their protests and fight to the end to stop a highway construction through the old-growth trees.

Today, in Paris—where Vinci is headquartered—they are holding workshops and public events to educate citizens about the destruction of the forest perpetuated by a company in their midst. They will hand out acrorns to plant from Khimki and present journalists with documents of police violence towards activists in the forest. Tomorrow, they will hold similar events in Berlin.

In recent good news, the U.S. State Department has finally spoken out and chastened the Kremlin for repression of the protests. In a speech to visiting Russian human rights groups, an official with the U.S. State Department said, "Most recently, we were concerned about reports of intimidation and attacks by private security guards, police, and other parties on activists associated with the Khimki [HIM-key] Forest campaign. Police have repeatedly detained and interrogated the activists, while the tax inspectorate and child protective services have threatened their livelihoods and families."

Help the Khimki Forest movement continue their quest. For those of you not in Berlin, Paris or Moscow --- you can sign their petition to Vinci, contact your embassy, and spread the word about khimkiforest.org. If you know organizations that might want to sign the petition, please let us know. I have been consistently impressed by the bravery, persistence and creativity of these activists in the face of oppression, and hope everyone can support them.

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Jess Leber is a Change.org editor. She most recently covered climate and energy issues as a reporter in Washington, D.C

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