Deja-vu in Belgrade
June 22, 2011
Bankwatch’s coordinator in Serbia Zvezdan Kalmar finds himself in a situation similar to the one when campaigning on the Gazela bridge project: Roma families live in uncertainty about when they’ll be resettled to make way for road construction, all the while with little influence about how decisions are made.
The sun ain’t shining over Khimki Forest
May 4, 2011
The Khimki Forest in Russia might see its end signed and sealed this month. But Russian activists have continued their actions to defend Khimki forest also today by carrying out a citizens’ inspection to prevent the still illegal felling of trees.
20,000 backing Khimki activists calling on Vinci to end involvement in Moscow – St. Petersburg motorway
April 28, 2011
More than 20,000 people have signed a petition to demand Vinci’s withdrawal from the construction of a highway section through the Khimki Forest in Russia.
Campaign against Vinci’s participation in Moscow St. Petersburg motorway project launched
March 30, 2011
While much of the debate around the Moscow St. Petersburg motorway project has centred around the behaviour of the Russian authorities, the Movement to Defend Khimki Forest is now targeting French construction giant Vinci and asking the company not to sign an additional agreement with the Russian authorities, expected in mid-April.
Khimki defender Evgenia Chirikova is a woman of courage, literally now
March 11, 2011
Evgenia Chirikova, the leading figure of the Movement to Defend Khimki Forest has yesterday received the US Woman of Courage Award to honour her relentless efforts to save the Khimki Forest near Moscow from being transformed into a motorway.
Shadow report on discrimination in Serbia doesn’t cast the best light on EIB and EBRD
February 18, 2011
Roma’s discrimination in Serbia is to be discussed by the UN. Serbian member group CEKOR is contributing with experience from the Gazela resettlement process.
EBRD can’t stay away from Russian motorways – Khimki destruction goes ahead while women and children are being arrested
February 11, 2011
Yesterday, police in Khimki arrested an activist of the Movement for the Defence of Khimki Forest. The activist Alla Chernyshova and her daughters of 3 and 6 had to spend more than five hours in custody where she was questioned as the main suspect for a false bomb threat.
Tree adoptions lead to more arrests in Khimki Forest
January 17, 2011
Despite the Russian government’s controversial decision to go ahead with the Moscow St. Petersburg motorway’s original routing through Khimki Forest, environmental activists have not given up their struggle to save the last remaining natural area in a densely populated region.
Khimki Forest activist arrested for holding banner during picket action
September 13, 2010
Russian activist Yaroslav Nikitenko was arrested by police on Saturday during a legally permitted picket action in the town of Khimki near Moscow. The action was part of the campaign to change the route of the planned Moscow-St Petersburg motorway so that it avoids the Khimki Forest.
EIB complaints office confirms shortcomings on Belgrade resettlement
August 4, 2010
After more than three months delay, the Complaints Office of the European Investment Bank recently released its concluding investigations (pdf) into the banks involvement in the resettlement of 175 predominately Roma families from underneath the Gazela bridge in Belgrade.
