Picket in defence of Utrish held in Krasnodar

On December 1 in Krasnodar, opposite the building of the Forestry Department of the Krasnodar Territory, a picket was held in defence of the would-be Utrish Natural Reserve. Activists demanded, in particular, to stop construction of the so-called "anti-fire" road, where, in their opinion, relic forests are felled.

The picket was held starting midday Moscow time at 22 Krasnaya Street, where the Department is located, with participation of about 30 defenders of Utrish. They tried to draw attention of the public to the situation with the unique natural complex in the coast of the Black Sea. In particular, the picketers pointed to reduction, contrary to opinion of scientists and ecologists, of the especially protected area and construction of roads and physical culture and health-improving complexes.

"Today, on December 1, pickets in support of Utrish are held in many cities of Russia," Evgenia Kascheyeva, one of the organizers of the picket in Krasnodar, said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to her story, all the construction activities in the territory of Utrish are absolutely illegal.

Oleg Durov from St Petersburg told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the activists, who stand for preservation of the Utrish, want to change the status of a wildlife sanctuary into the nature reserve.

On December 1, similar actions in defence of Utrish took place in several cities of Russia: Anapa, Moscow, St Petersburg, Maikop, Ekaterinburg and Apatity.