Last year Chairman of the Russia’s Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin responded to numerous applications of citizens fighting against building houses in the Siversky forest in the Leningrad Region. During several personal meetings Mr. Bastrykin heard out reasons of the forest protectors and ordered an in-depth study. The Investigative Committee organized a checkout of legality of the decision to give up the land for construction site. After the check the Leningrad Region Investigations Directorate launched an investigation in fraud (part 4 of article 159 of the RF Penal Code).
During the investigation it has been found that as early as in 1991 the territory of former boarding house Lesnoye was seized from the forestry lands fund against land and forest laws and illegally transferred to the lands of settlements. After that the territory was divided in 94 pieces and sold to citizens for construction. During a number of forensic analysis including a commission ecological forensic expert examination he specialists concluded that the environment around former boarding house was subject to negative anthropogenic influence and was a valuable forest cluster therefore could be viewed as forest under special protection. The experts also came to a conclusion that the construction of cottages can cause massive deforestation of the area, pollution of the Oredezh river and destruction of its banks. The result of historic and cultural forensic analyses showed that the area has natural, esthetic and memorial value.
The abovementioned conclusions were submitted to the leaders of the region and considering high historic, cultural and recreational value of that area in Siversky township the government of the Leningrad Region made a decision to reject the construction project. This way, thanks to the interference of the Chairman of the Russia’s Investigative Committee the legal rights of the Russian citizens have been restored.
Head of Media Relations V.I. Markin
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