Ecologists decide to stop anti-fire Kuban expedition

Activists of the "Greenpeace" and the "Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus" (EcoWatch) fear for their lives and health, said Dmitri Shevchenko, deputy coordinator of the "EcoWatch".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported, referring to activists, that on September 8 the camp of the anti-fire expedition in the Krasnodar Territory was blocked by a group of Kuban Cossacks; and at night on September 9, an armed attack was committed on the camp, which resulted in two hospitalized members of the expedition with injuries. On September 11, the police of Adygea detained the "Greenpeace" and "EcoWatch" activists, who had come to extinguish the fire in Adygea. On the same day they were released.

Today the participants of the anti-fire expedition of the "Greenpeace" and the "EcoWatch" held a meeting with the leadership of Ministry for Emergencies (MfE) of the Krasnodar Territory, the above Dmitri Shevchenko told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, adding: "They don't hide the fact at the MfE that they lack the staff to combat all the fires. Therefore, it was decided that the 'EcoWatch' will form a voluntary fire-fighting team to help MfE employees."

However, ecologists and volunteers then decided to complete their anti-fire expedition ahead of time, because they fear for their lives and health, as well as further pressure from law enforcers.

"People are scared, no one wants to get a blow of baseball bat on his head," said the ecologist.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.