In Krasnodar Territory ecologists stop construction in wildlife reserve

Today, ecologists have stopped an attempt to start construction of a highway in the wildlife reserve "Bolshoi Utrish" in the Krasnodar Territory, having blocked the construction machinery.

Andrei Rudomakha, Coordinator of the Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus, told by telephone to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that 26 persons took part in today's action in defence of the wildlife reserve. The machinery of the builders, "having run against" the "live fence" made by the participants of the campaign of non-violent resistance to this construction, could not occupy the operation sites. "Currently, we've called the militia, and wait for them to come," he said. "Probably, the builders have done the same."

Construction of the Sukko-Utrish road is carried out under roughest violations of Russian legislation, as the defenders of the wildlife reserve assert. Alexander Byuller, deputy head of the Forestry Department of the Krasnodar Territory, reported earlier that a forestry fire-protection road was being built in the Utrish.

According to the ecologists, the customers of the road construction instructed the "Glavpromstroy" Company to cut through the way to the sea during the New Year holidays. Starting December 31, activists of the Ecological Watch for the Northern Caucasus and Movements "Save Utrish!" set up a blockade of the construction of Sukko-Utrish highway, which is executed by the LLC "Glavpromstroy". Within the latest three day no construction was in progress on the highway. Ecologists believe that the reason was the New Year holidays.