The National Ecological Centre of Ukraine backed by other environmental organisations appealed to UEFA management and Euro 2012 committee in Ukraine with the request to stop the destruction in Kharkiv Gorky Park and violence organised by the city authorities. At least ten local activists, struggling to stop the massive illegal trees cuttings, were arrested and injured.
The felling has been taking place without proper allowances in order to build a road across the park and hotels along it. The road is presented by the city authorities as a part of EURO 2012 action plan.
Dozens of activists and residents of the neighborhood have been preventing construction workers and bulldozer from entering the park since May 19th. Clashes between protestors and unidentified groups of people wearing orange vests have been happening while police has been arresting individual activists. As a result two people were injured by excavator and another four brutally beaten as of May 28. The blockade continues with a group of protestors sitting on the trees.
Acting Mayor of Kharkiv Mr. Kernes quoted as saying that the road will be built at any price. The decision by city council lacks written agreements required by legislation, according to environmentalists.
Environmental organisations appealed to the UEFA president Mr Platini and Euro 2012 committee on May 28th stating: “EURO 2012 in Ukraine from the noble actions in the name of European ideals of sports and international brotherhood turn into violent movement of the construction business.”
“For the first time in Ukraine, during the peaceful demonstrations of environmentalists the blood of many activists was shed. At the same time Kharkiv authorities justify the events with the beautiful ideals and the necessity to prepare the city for the European football championship in 2012,” – said Ihor Syrenko, Head of the National Ecological Centre of Ukraine.
Environmentalists asked the UEFA management EURO 2012 preparation committee to dismiss Kharkiv from participation in processes related to EURO 2012 and publicly condemn the actions of city park destruction and violence against local population.
Contact:
Yury Urbansky, National Ecological Centre of Ukraine
Tel.: +380505123222
http://www.necu.org.ua
In Kharkiv: Oleg Peregon, “Pechenegi” +380502288256
The up-to-date information (including video chronics) on developments in the Gorky Park in Ukrainian, can be found at:
www.pryroda.in.ua/stepan/tag/park-gorkogo.