Chechnya Wants Defense Agencies’ Bases Out of Nature Preserves

GROZNY. June 6 (Interfax) – The Chechen offices of the Russian Federal Agencies for Environmental Protection (Rosprirodnadzor) and the Agency for Mass Communications and Cultural Heritage Protection (Rossvyazokhrankultura) have expressed concern about the state of local nature and historical preserves.

“We are faced with the real threat of extinction of nature preserves and cultural monuments in the areas where the Russian Defense Ministry has buildings,” head of Rossvyazokhrankultura’s branch in Chechnya Ismail Munayev told a press conference in Grozny.

It has therefore been decided to support the legal action taken by the Chechen government seeking to claim back from the Russian Defense Ministry land plots in the Argun National Historical Architectural and Nature Reserve, which is protected under federal law.

“In September 2007, the Chechen government asked the Arbitration Court to take back from the ministry the Khindoi and Borzoi land plots in the Argun Nature Reserve,” Munayev said.

Movla Osmayev, who represents Rosprirodnadzor in Chechnya, said, “We are not against the needed military presence in Chechnya.

“However, by their presence on the territories of nature reserves, the defense agencies violate three federal laws and one Chechen law,” he added.

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