Svetlana Bobrova assert: residents of Uryupinsk, Voronezh Region, opponents of nickel extraction, were beaten

Residents of the Volgograd Region, who oppose mining nickel in the Novokhopyorsk District of the Voronezh Region, were beaten by staff members of the private security company (PSC) "Patrol". This was reported by Svetlana Bobrova, Spokesperson of the Stalingrad Regional Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF). Representatives of the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company (UMMC) claimed disorderly conduct of the persons protesting against mining of nickel.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 22, 2012, it was announced that the right to develop the deposits was given to the Limited Liability Company (LLC) "Mednogorsk Copper and Sulphur Complex", a part of the LLC "UMMC-Holding". This led to mass protests of residents of the Volgograd and Voronezh Regions.

In the evening of May 13, in the Voronezh Region, an incident burst out involving staff members of the PSC "Patrol" and eco-activists from the Volgograd Region, including Alexei Shevyrev, First Secretary of the Uryupinsk Regional Committee of the CPRF, Assistant of Alevtina Aparina, a State Duma deputy. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Svetlana Bobrova, Spokesperson of the Stalingrad Regional Committee of the CPRF.

According the Svetlana Bobrova's story, four of the victims are participants of the tent camp in defence of the Khopyor River area who oppose mining of nickel. "Apart from Alexei Shevyrev, who got serious injuries, Igor Zhitenev, Cossack ataman of the Cultural National Autonomy of Novokhopyorsk was beaten unconscious," Svetlana Bobrova said. She continued: "Other activists got knock-out teeth and broken noses, multiple abrasions and bruises. A young girl is among the victims. All of them were brought to the Novokhopyorsk hospital."

According to the medical examination, a copy of which is stored at the press service of the Regional Committee of the CPRF, Alexei Shevyrev got brain concussion, bruised nose, bruises on his body and hematomas, and his teeth were damaged. No signs of alcohol were found in his blood. The victims have filed complaint to the police on the fact of beating. This was reported by the press service of the Stalingrad Regional Committee of the CPRF.

"On Saturday, May 11, near the village of Elan-Koleno of the Novokhopyorsk District, an unsanctioned rally was held, at which different political slogans and provocative calls were voiced," states the message published on the website of the LLC "UMMC-Holding".

The press service of the company has also explained that "provocations, including threats against workers of geological organizations and guards had been continued without interruption on May 12 and 13."

"By the evening of May 13, the situation has deteriorated. An agitated crowd of about 150-200 persons gathered around the shift camp, and many of those persons were in a state of alcoholic intoxication. They made two attempts to break into the shift camp with the use of available tools. As a result, one of the staff members of the geological organization was seriously injured: he got a head injury from a knock with a brick. The victim was hospitalized in a serious condition. Besides, staff members of the private security company were injured by the attackers. Some employees got quite serious injuries from knocks with nailed board," the company's message states.

The incident occurred in the period starting from 08:00 p.m. of May 13 till 03:00 a.m. of May 14. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by a representative of the press service of the Prosecutor's Office of the Voronezh Region.

"Later, the conflict escalated into a fight, during which nine persons were injured on both sides. Prospect evaluation and exploration works conducted by the LLC 'Voronezhgeologiya' were suspended," the representative of the Prosecutor's Office has noted.