Police and Kremlin security officers forcefully broke up a peaceful demonstration against a law that President Putin signed in July. The law allows spent nuclear fuel to be imported for reprocessing. 24 activists and 6 journalists, including cameramen from Reuters and Ekho TV company were detained by police at the demonstration held on red Square on 25 April – the eve of the 16th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. (30-APR-2002)
Nadezhda Kutepova from the Planet of Hopes and one of the detained participants, said that Chernobyl should be a warning to those who handle nuclear materials. An explosion of Chernobyl nuclear reactor sent radiation across Europe and contaminated large parts of Ukraine, the Russian Federation and Belarus. It lead to thousands of deaths, especially among those who took part in the cleanup and 7 million people are estimated to suffer physical or psychological effects of radiation. Birth rates in Ukraine have dropped by 50% since 1986 and mortality rates almost doubled. There is sharp rise in thyroid cancer, especially among children. Doctors estimate the number of cases could reach 10000 in the next two years.
The law allowing imports of spent nuclear fuel is opposed by 90% of the population. Member of Ecodefence – one of the organisers of the protest said it was aimed at the President. They added that the organisers didn’t even consider applying for a permit because the authorities wouldn’t have issued it.
Protesters, dressed in white overalls resembling radiation suits, crawled under the chain 25 meters from the gate to Kremlin and moved forward slowly and silently. Senior police officers and several other policemen arrived in cars and members of Federal Guard Service emerged from the Kremlin, some with truncheons. Protesters quickly moved back behind the chain. Officers began cuffing people and throwing them to the ground, then they dragged the protesters on the cobblestones and shoved them into the cars. After that officers demanded ID from those who had taken photographs or filmed, and pulled film from cameras.
Oleg Panfilov, director of the Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations, said the officers had no right to destroy the journalists’ film: “According to the media law, journalists have complete freedom to do their work covering meetings and demonstrations, even if the protest is not sanctioned. No one should stop them from doing their work. Unfortunately the authorities are using force more end more against journalists”.
Sources: The Moscow Times, Radio Liberty
