Five arrested at White House protest, Moscow

Moscow - A White House rally resulted in five arrests. In Moscow Russia, that is. Although it is not the home of the Russian President, the large white building is considered the seat of government.

According to Moscow Times, the battle for the ancient Khimki Forest continues as 50 activists placed timber on the steps of the White House, felled from the forest near Sheremetyevo Airport, a major hub into Moscow. This to make way for a motorway between St Petersburg and Moscow, a route that has many concerned. Instead of the receiving reassurances from Prime Minister Putin, the protesters were met with police who arrested at least five people, without any explanation.

“The police swooped down on us and detained us, acting in a very rude and harsh fashion and turning a peaceful event into a brawl,”

A forested area the size of a football field was cut down on Thursday before friends of the Khimki Forest forced workers away, after they could not provide a proper permit. Since then environmentalists have been camping on site, setting up a barricade. Global organization are trying to help, including Greenpeace and WWF. Khimki is considered to be the “lungs” of Moscow. Meanwhile President Dmitry Medvedev, has remained silent. On July 20, he visited the Hermitage, St Petersburg and viewed the restoration progress.