22:05, 26 September 2007

Picket in Moscow against amendments to land ownership law

A picket against adoption of amendments to the land ownership law was held in the Theatrical Square of Moscow by activists of the Movement named "Popular-Democratic Youth Union" (PDYU).

Yulia Malysheva, leader of the PDYU, said, as quoted by the "Echo Moskvy" Radio: "We protest against the provisions under which the land that belongs to citizens of Russia can be withdrawn for the so-called 'economic needs'; however, nobody describes the rules of this sort of withdrawal."

According to Ms Malysheva, the action was held by 25 PDYU activists, and about 20 "provokers from the 'Nashi' Movement" came to the picket. "They were throwing their leaflets about and shouting, but did not provoke fights, since militiamen were around," she added.

She has also noted that the militiamen behaved correctly in relation to the organizers of the action, the "Kommersant" newspaper writes.

The organizers of the picket have emphasized that the law amendments "were formally intended for the territory of the future Olympic objects, but would be in force all over Russia."