Khimki Forest highway construction HALTED by the Kremlin

Moscow - The Kremlin has ordered a suspension of the motorway construction through the ancient Khimki Forest, signaling a victory for the environmentalists.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev promised to initiate public discussion, but could not predict what the results would be. Construction on the highway began on July 11, 2010, with a large area of trees razed before protesters ran off the workers. Since then, there have been heated exchanges, resulting in arrests, threats, and violence. Last month the mayor’s office was hit by rocks and smoke bombs, but did little to change the plan. “This forest is our air,” said Yevgenia Chirikova, the leader of protest movement, “If this highway goes through the Khimki Forest a hole will be punched in the protective ring.” Last Sunday over 2000 people gathered at Pushkin Square for a legal protest. However a planned concert was banned, and no sound equipment was allowed on stage. The protest lasted for three hours, with DDT frontman,Yuri Shevchuk singing on a makeshift stage, and a receptive audience joining in. But it was later this week that may have had the biggest impact - a concert by U2 in Moscow. Leadman Bono met with President Dmitry Medvedev earlier this week. Medvedev is well known for his interest in rock and roll, including Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin. Late Wednesday, U2’s Bono sang in heavy rain at the open Luzhniki stage. Later, Shevchuk joined him for a Bob Dylan song “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door", sending a powerful message, giving a voice to the public. Two thirds of Moscovites oppose the highway as it stands, not being a direct route from Moscow to St Petersburg, rather going out of its way into the forest, which would open it up to future development. Permission to build the highway was originally given by Vladimir Putin, who was President at the time. This decision has been questioned for the last three years, but sanctioned even by the Supreme Court. The announcement came on Thursday, demolition has been halted, at least for the time being. According to Moscow Times:

Medvedev, whose last public comment on the forest was a pledge to consider the issue after being asked about it in Paris on March 2, stopped the partial demolition of the ancient oak forest, planned to make way for an $8 billion highway from Moscow to St. Petersburg, after United Russia unexpectedly sided with growing public discontent over the project.

Many noted that the political party, United Russia, is taking orders from Medvedev, and not Putin who is the party leader. Medvedev’s popularity is strong, and it is unknown who will run for presidency in 2012. Moscow Times reports:

Putin, who heads United Russia, did not comment on the Khimki forest Thursday. His spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in July that the deforestation would proceed.

Stanislav Belkovsky, an independent analyst, said United Russia was aware that Medvedev had planned to halt the highway project and suggested that cracks were emerging in its once-steadfast alliance to Putin.

"The decision shows that the party is responding to orders from the top powers represented by Dmitry Medvedev and not to Vladimir Putin, the party leader," he said.

kremlin.ru

Bono meets with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at his official residence in Sochi, August 2010

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