Union of Imereti Valley Residents founded at rally in Sochi

Today, under the All-Russian action "Day of People's Anger", Sochi has held a rally "In defence of Sochi residents-victims of lawlessness, arbitrariness, corruption of city officials, judges and MIA workers". The event participants have founded the Union of Imereti Valley Residents.

"In our city, they continue to build-up the best resort lands with commercial housing sky-scrapers. Despite their splendiferous campaign to crush down illegal objects, in reality, there is no systematic work to stop illegal construction. They continue to build right on the beaches and then legalize their bandit's objects in the judicial manner. Repressions, provocations, judicial arbitrariness, lawlessness of Sochi residents and mass violations of citizens' rights are incompatible with the Olympic movement," the IA "Rosbalt" quotes the statement of the organizers of the rally.

There were about 200 persons present at the rally. It was marked at the website of the "Collective Action" Institute that it was rather few with account of the announcement about the event placed in the 100,000-circulation city newspaper and dissemination of 4000 leaflets with invitation to Sochi residents to come to the rally. Despite official invitations, none of the 50 deputies of the City Assembly and none of electronic media journalists appeared at the event. "Probably, the authorities have properly worked with the media," the organizers of the action have concluded.

"For lack of any help," the organizers report, "the people decided to get united into the Union of Imereti Valley Residents. They are about 150 families, whose houses and land plots should be alienated. A group was founded for drafting the terms of the agreement on the process of land alienation. It was officially announced that demolitions and alienations will start on November 1. However, despite the law, which prescribes two months for coordination of the terms with the residents, the authorities have not yet approached the population. Therefore, people decided to self-organize."

On the outcomes of the event, the Resolution of the Rally of Sochi Public was adopted, where the Union of Imereti Valley Residents has demanded an immediate reaction of the State Office of Public Prosecutor of Russia to the failure of the officials of the Administration of the Krasnodar Territory to observe the deadline for presenting certificates on evaluation of confiscated property and draft agreements on the terms of alienation.