Pressure on defenders of the Bitsevsky Forest

In 2020, the Moscow authorities announced plans to develop Bitsevsky Forest—the “development concept” for the forest in the south of the city entailed significant interference with the local ecosystem and the construction of car parks. From the very beginning, eco-activists, professional environmentalists, international organisations and residents of nearby districts opposed any construction or “improvement” works in the forest.

Despite public resistance and numerous attempts to engage in dialogue with the Moscow mayor’s office, work in Bitsevsky Forest nonetheless began. Activists hold gatherings at the sites where work is taking place, examining their lawfulness, safety, and the availability of all required documentation. During such gatherings, they are frequently detained and prosecuted under the “public protest” Article 20.2 of the Administrative Code.