The Khimki Forest Campaign was a failed effort by environmentalists in Russia to stop the deforestation of Khimki Forest for highway construction in 2010.
Events
Residents of Khimki discovered trees with red markings that the government planned to burn them down to build a new highway to connect Moscow and St. Petersburg. Led by 33-year old mother and university graduate Yevgenia Chriikova, the group "Defenders of Khimki Forest" held a round-the-clock vigil outside the logging site to protest and rallies were held in downtown Khimki, there was also a 20,000-signature petintion to the French company heading the project. One night masked men attacked the group and forced several to hospital. In response, protesters wore masks and threw molotovs, vandalised buildings and graffitied messages in opposition to the plans.
Results
Roughly two months after the protests began, construction was halted. However, only four short months later, construction on the highway would resume.
References
Global Nonviolent Action Database - Russians campaign to save Khimki Forest, 2010