We call upon the whole European and World Social Forum movement and all
concerned about the environment and stopping repression to support our
friends in Russia. Take action on 17-20 September in solidarity with
arrested, maltreated and oppressed activists. Follow the call made from
Russia enclosed below and go and make protests at the Russian embassies or
other places representing Russia. Among activists under threat are people
that have been participating in the social forum movement and the European
Social Forum in Istanbul 2010.
In a similar or even broader historical unification of movements as in the
social forum process Russian civil society and political actors have worked
together in defence of the Khimki forest and to stop political repression
against protesters. Environmentalists, human rights activists, journalists
fighting corruption, Anarchists and other antifascists, alter globalization
movement, Liberal, Communist and Left wing parties have courageously been
struggling in solidarity with each other in spite of different ideological
positions and views on tactics.
This has resulted in a historical victory when president Medvedev decided to
halt the construction of a high way through the forest. But at the same time
the witch hunt against antifascist activists is continued. Solidarity with
the activists is the only way to both stop repression and to save the Khimki
forest more permanently. Please join the action called for by our Russian
friends!
European Social Forum network Prague Spring II against Right Wing Extremism:
Matyas Benyik, Attac Hungary
Tord Björk, Friends of the Earth Sweden
Igor Gotlieb, Alternatives, Russia
Leo Gabriel, Suedwind (South Wind), Austria
Mirek Prokes, Czech Social Forum
Victor Shapinov, Institute New Democracy, Ukraine
Vera Zalca, Hungarian Social Forum Network
The Greek Social Forum decided to organise some kind of solidarity action
one of the days mentioned, outside of the Russian Embassy in Athens. We will
inform the list about the action and send photograph and information about
the response of the Russian Embassy.
We will also publicise the case in Greece.
Sissy Vovou
Greek Social Forum
See the call on ESSF: A Call for International Days of Action in Support of Alexei Gaskarov and Maxim Solopov
All information on the Khimki struggle available in French and English on ESSF can be found through the keyword “Khimki”. Click here: Khimki