Аннотация: Two environmental lawsuits: in Rostov and in Moscow. An addition to the story about the visit to Kamchatka.
Two environmental lawsuits: in Rostov and in Moscow. An addition to the story about the visit to Kamchatka.
In the story [MMСCCXIV.] 'I avoided a crash during a visit to Kamchatka. An autobiographical story' (August 12, 2021), I did not describe the details of the environmental event itself, in which I participated.
Nevertheless, one of the logical lines may be of interest to a certain number of readers.
Even before my visit to Kamchatka, I, as far as possible, joined in the public struggle against the Rostov nuclear power plant.
The figure of a powerful environmentalist, whose widespread fame hovered over the circles of environmental activists, delighted me. A case was mentioned when criminal people were released from some hard-to-reach places. These people were supposed to make an attempt on the life of a powerful ecologist, these people were armed with a pistol, but something they did not succeed.
Somehow, all this information got into the public space. The environmentalist's fame grew.
On this wave, I suggested that a powerful ecologist file a complaint against the oblast authorities.
There were some hopes for a relatively successful outcome of the case.
Indeed, several factors joined: the powerful tacit opposition of the broad masses of the population against the Rostov (Volgodonsk) NPP, the remnants of the dependence of elected officials on the will of the voters and some skepticism of regional officials in relation to the NPP.
Of course, none of the officials spoke out directly against the NPP. But they did not show any particular activity in pushing of the nuclear power plant - with the exception of the option of "large portfolios" of nuclear industry figures interested in the nuclear power plant.
All these factors joined, and in court an amicable agreement was concluded between the opposition figure and the oblast authorities on some particular issue related to the Rostov (Volgodonsk) NPP.
It was a huge legal, moral and social victory.
The opposition figure immediately has climbed several leaps up the public rating ladder.
I don't remember if my name was mentioned in publications (the idea was mine, I was a representative of a powerful ecologist in the process, I brought the case to a relatively successful result, I drew up draft documents).
There were publications, and a powerful ecologist could show these publications to colleagues (chiefs?) from Moscow.
Events went further. Both a recommendation to include my candidacy in number of participants of a public environmental event and my trip to Kamchatka followed.
They were observing me with interest. I was given the opportunity to join the event and I was awarded after the performance with friendly applause.
However, no one ever mentioned the glorious ecological victory in court, and did not say a single kind word about this victory.
So, they looked at me, listened to me and succeeded to absorb some impressions and some information.
After my returning from Kamchatka, the first information appeared about a large lawsuit initiated by a group of Moscow ecologists against the Government of the Russian Federation.
The Government has transferred some forest areas either from the third group to the second, or from the second to the first, or vice versa.
This decision changed something in the legal status of these forest areas.
On the scale of the entire environmental problems of Russia, this issue was close to zero in its significance.
However, the theme of the lawsuit against the Government of the Russian Federation - here was the emphasis: the Moscow group of ecologists opposes the Government! - was presented, published with mysterious importance. As if some new, influential, still little-known currents appeared in the World Ocean.
After lengthy proceedings in the Supreme Court - as far as I know, emotional women of an ecological orientation went there - some violations by the Government of the Russian Federation were detected when Government adopting a decree on forest areas.
The decree was canceled in part or in full.
How moderately, extremely modestly and laconically the victory in the Rostov court was presented, just as widely in public circles, in the press the victory over the Government of the Russian Federation by a group of Moscow ecologists was presented.
Some time later, several Moscow figures who initiated the process against the Government of the Russian Federation received the American Oldman Environmental Prize (the name of the founder of the prize may be spelled here with some inaccuracy).
By this time, the process initiated by me had become a thing of the past, and it was somehow not fashionable to mention him.
However, the result was - both for the powerful Rostov ecologist and for the Moscow group of ecologists.
In general, my efforts were not in vain.
August 13, 2021 10:49
Translation from Russian into English: August 13, 2021 11:57.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Два экологических судебных процесса: ростовский и московский. Дополнение к рассказу о визите на Камчатку'.