Krasnodar: "EcoWatch" activist Shevchenko attacked while filming tree pruning

On September 17, in Krasnodar, Dmitry Shevchenko, the deputy coordinator of the "Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus" (EcoWatch), was attacked while he was filming the process of tree pruning in the course of the reconstruction works conducted in the Friendship Park. An unidentified man, who led the works, knocked out a video camera from the activist's hands, the website of the "EcoWatch" reports.

According to Dmitry Shevchenko, the incident occurred at about 12:30 Moscow time, when he "was trying to find out the reason for pruning of trees."

The "EcoWatch" has reported about filing to the police a complaint about the attack on its staff member. The activists also intend to file to the City Prosecutor's Office a complaint about cutting down and mass pruning of trees in the Krasnodar Park.

Let us remind you that the "Caucasian Knot" monitors incidents of harassment of civil society activists in Krasnodar and Sochi, including staff members of the "Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus."

At present, Evgeny Vitishko, an activist of the "EcoWatch", convicted in the case of the so-called "Governor Tkachov's summer cottage", is serving his sentence at the penal settlement-colony No. 2 located in the village of Sadovy of the Tambov Region.

The human rights organization "Amnesty International" (AI) has recognized Evgeny Vitishko a "prisoner of conscience". Besides, the activist has been included in the list of human rights defenders, whose rights are being grossly violated. The list was compiled by the international organization "Front Line Defenders".

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.