Grassroots protests in Brest city executive committee

Brest residents protest against a new project of the authorities.

Public hearing was held in Brest to discuss the investment project “Italian Quarter” that proposes demolition of several residential buildings in the centre of the town. People came to the meeting with handmade posters “No construction works in our yard”, “Our town is not you yard”, “Whose interests do the authorities protect?” and others, Viasna human rights website reports.

People say officials ignore the arguments of those living in the historical centre and protesting against the plans of the city authorities to demolish residential buildings in the district within Mickiewicz, Savetskaya, Kamsamolskaya and Pushkinskaya Streets.

Previous discussions didn't have results. People didn't receive answers to their questions about landscaping, ecology, transport and contradictions in regulatory acts that were adopted earlier. The Brest city executive committee approved the investment project “Italian Quarter” 4 years ago without discussing it with the people subject to resettlement.

People hope that the authorities will cancel their previous agreement and discuss other variants of redevelopment that would suit every party after the investor failed to fulfil its obligations. If it does not happen, people are ready to protest to attract public attention to the problem.

No sanctions were applied to participants of the grassroots picket in the city executive committee.

Photo: HRC Viasna