Russian Police Arrest Khimki Forest Demonstrators

Police have arrested at least 20 environmental activists protesting damage to Moscow’s Khimki forest as part of a controversial highway plan.

Opposition leader Sergei Udaltsov said he and fellow activists were all arrested, including campaign organizer Yevgenia Chirikova and liberal party leader Sergei Mitrokhin, adding that they were treated “in a rough manner.”

The police charged the activists with holding an unsanctioned demonstration. The campaign “Movement in Defense of Khimki Forest” has secured considerable public support.

A petition to reroute a highway project — which would cut through the forest in order to link Moscow and St. Petersburg — has drawn over 20,000 signatures.

compiled from agency reports

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