Ecologist Evgeny Vitishko fails to answer calls, rights defenders assert

The ecologist Evgeny Vitishko has failed to respond to the scheduled weekly call of human rights activists, said Evgenia Chirikova, the leader of the movements "Ecological Watch for Moscow Region" and "In Defence of Khimki Forest". Rights activists believe that Vitishko could be placed into a dungeon.

"Vitishko has agreement with Victor Chirikov, a member of the 'Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus' (EcoWatch), that Evgeny will make a call on every Thursday or Friday. If Vitishko fails to do it, it means that he was placed into the dungeon as punishment for his complaints to the UFSIN (regional branch of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service, – note of the "Caucasian Knot"), Evgenia Chirikova told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to Victor Chirikov, Vitishko has complaints about the work of the medical unit, which "fails to meet any standards"; he also complains about restrictions on his movement within the colony and nutrition problems.

The conditions for phone conversations in the colony are bad, Dmitry Shevchenko, the deputy coordinator of the "EcoWatch" told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. The colony staff does not like the ecologist's legal activities, said Victor Chirikov.

Andrei Kolmakov, the chairman of the board of the Tambov regional public organization "People's Initiative" is now involved in establishing Vitishko's whereabouts.

Victor Chirikov has added that Vitishko promised to go on hunger strike in case of being placed into the dungeon.