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In the Moscow region town of Ramenskoye, police have detained Valentin Bashkov, an activist and member of the Save the Bulon Forest initiative group. This was reported by the “Istochnik” channel. Bashkov himself has also confirmed the information to OVD-Info.

He clarified that he is being charged under the article concerning violation of the rules for holding a protest (Part 1, Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Bashkov is currently at the police station and waiting for a lawyer.

According to the activist, today residents of Ramenskoye planned to collect rubbish in Bulon Forest—these volunteer clean-up sessions are a regular occurrence.

In the morning, Valentin Bashkov arrived at the volunteer meeting point, where police were already present. He was detained under the pretext of “distributing campaign materials.” The officers did not specify what materials were allegedly involved.

15:37 Valentin Bashkov has been released from the police station. An official report for violating the procedures of public assembly has been drawn up against him, he told OVD-Info.

The report by law enforcement officers states that construction and earthworks are underway at the clean-up site where Bashkov was detained.

“The construction site is fenced off. This information is widely known, including due to the construction permit posted on the site fence,” the police wrote.

They added that today, on their VKontakte page, the activist posted an announcement for the clean-up event, allegedly containing “calls to hold a public mass event on the above-mentioned territory, including the phrase: ‘Let’s save and preserve Bulon Forest together! ’” The police noted that the event had not been approved by the Ramenskoye municipal district authorities.

“Therefore, there is a statutory ban on campaigning among citizens to hold a public event without its approval by the local self-government authorities,” the report states.

According to OVD-Info, Valentin Bashkov’s court hearing may take place on Monday, 28 July.

27 August The Ramenskoye City Court fined Bashkov 15,000 rubles (approx. US$165). This was posted in a story by lawyer Oskar Cherdzhiev.

25 September The Moscow Regional Court overturned Bashkov’s fine and sent the administrative case back to the court of first instance for a new review. His lawyer Oskar Cherdzhiev reported this in a Telegram story.

“Now the case has been returned for a new review, after which it should be closed due to the absence of any wrongdoing,” wrote the lawyer.

24 October The Ramenskoye City Court again fined Bashkov 15,000 rubles (approx. US$165). This was posted in a story by lawyer Oskar Cherdzhiev.

  • For several years, residents of Ramenskoye, a town near Moscow, have protested against deforestation and construction in the area, describing it as the “lungs of the city” and calling for the green areas to be preserved and improved.
  • The authorities have stated that a residential complex will be built where the forest is now.
  • “The construction site is only called a forest, but in reality it’s just a place with vegetation. …> Right now, this area is not integrated into the city in any way. Building a unique, architecturally and functionally distinctive residential complex will help turn a depressed district of the city into a thriving and comfortable one,” said Yuri Lotarev, head of the Department of Urban Development and Advertising for the Ramenskoye city district, as quoted.