Максим Солопов

TerraSelvaggia is an Italian eco-anarchist paper, which made this interview with Russian Campaign to Defend Khimki Hostages last September. Paper issue came up some time ago after the usual delays, so now it is time for online publication. Keep in mind, that this interview reflects the situation in Russian society last September – before the recent massive protest against election fraud. Now much has changed since then, but much is still the same. Enjoy!

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For the beginning, about us, so that you know from which perspective we are talking.

24th of June, judge of the Khimki city court of Moscow region of Russia, Neonila Zepalova, sentenced “Khimki hostages”, anti-fascist activists Alexei Gaskarov and Maxim Solopov, who were accused of organisation of a radical demonstration against construction of the Moscow-St. Petersburg toll highway, which took place in Moscow Suburb of Khimki 28th of July.

From 2nd of 9th of April 2011 and after, actions to defend “Khimki hostages”, Alexei Gaskarov and brothers Maxim and Denis Solopov were organised in six countries and
25 cities. Alexei Gaskarov and Maxim Solopov are currently out from jail, in court facing charges following from a demonstration, which was organised 28th of July 2010 in Moscow suburg of Khimki against construction of Moscow-St. Petersburg toll road, and the gross human rights violations against its opposers. Denis Solopov has been granted an UNCHR refugee status in Ukraine, but in beginning of April he was detained and is currently waiting his deportation court in Lykyanovka prison of Kiev.

April 9 at the center of Volgograd hosted a single picket in front of the Volgograd Regional Court in support of "Khimki hostage" by Dennis Solopova, who is in custody in the Kiev prison.

Perm left today organized a picket near the building of regional prosecutor's office for civil and political activists who are persecuted for political reasons, including - "Khimki hostages Alexei Gaskarova, Maxim and Dennis Solopova.

On March 14 and 23, 2010 two court hearings in the case of antifascists Alexei Gaskarov and Maxim Solopov who were accused of organizing attack on the Khimki City Administration, took place at the Khimki City Court.

Accusation against Alexei and Maxim is absurd and based on false evidence of three alleged eyewitnesses identifying them as persons participated in the riots.

On Saturday, April 9, near the monument Griboyedov (out of m "Pure ponds", "Turgenev", "Sretensky Boulevard") will rally in support of defendants' case Khimki Alexei Gaskarova, Maxim Solopova and suspect Dennis Solopova, now time being in Kiev prison. Also, the shares will be discussed proposed cutting Khimki near Moscow and other forests for the construction of toll highway Moscow - Saint - Petersburg and repression against defenders of the forest.

On the 5th of April, activists of Denmark and Sweden came to The Embassy of the Republic of Ukraine in Copenhagen in order to show their solidarity with "Khimki hostage" Denis Solopov, who arrived to Ukraine in search of asylum from repressions of Russian authorities and who is in Pre-Trial Detention Facility Luk'yanovsky in Kiev.

April 6 at 18:00 at the building edge prosecutors Permian left picketed against political repression in Russia today in the All-Russian day of united action to defend the anarchists Alexei Gaskarova, Maxim and Dennis Solopova accused of organizing the demolition of the city administration Khimki, in response to repression against defenders Khimki forest on July 28 last year.

April 1, the organizers of shares in favor of "Khimki hostages" were in the prefecture of the Central District of Moscow, a document on the harmonization of picketing the embassy of Ukraine (Leontief per., 18, Passage: Metro: Pushkinskaya, Tverskaya, "Chekhov", "Okhotny number ") on April 4 at 16 hours and 9 April at 17 o'clock. Harmonization of the rally, scheduled for April 9 in 15 hours, has not yet received, but the representatives of the City Hall was asked to move it to the monument at Griboyedov Chistoprudny Blvd.

April 1, Irkutsk anarchists held a rally to support their comrades from other cities who are persecuted for their beliefs and action. The anarchists took to the picket with the slogan "I looked at this banner? Now you - an extremist!

We call everyone, who is not indifferent, in different cities and countries to show solidarity with persecuted brothers Denis and Maxim Solopov, and Alexey Gaskarov. They became hostages in the course of the unbelievable story with the Khimki forest, a story of confrontation between civil society in today's Russia and a soulless junta of avaricious corrupters. Due to this situation, the city of Khimki in the Moscow suburbs has gained a reputation beyond the borders of Russia.

March 14 around 18.00 a group of anarchists and Marxists in Kaluga was held an unauthorized picket in support of a member of the "Autonomous Action" Andrey Kutuzov, as well as Khimkinskaya hostages Maxim Solopova, Denis Solopova and Alexei Gaskarova (also member of BP). About 15 minutes into the heart of the city boys and girls were handing out leaflets, waving flags, holding whatman with slogans written on them.

March 14 at 10.00 in the Municipal Court Khimki (Moscow region., Khimki, Leningrad highway, 19) held a preliminary hearing in the case of Khimki hostages. " The meeting was held behind closed doors and it will be approved by order of the hearing and filed petitions on procedural matters. Referee - Zepalova Neonila Nikolaevna. Previously, she had already abolished the conviction Mikhail Beketov libel against the Mayor of Khimki Strelchenko.

Rally against political repression and in support of the teacher and civic activist, member of "Autonomous Action" Andrey Kutuzov pursued by the FSB, will be held Feb. 6 at 15:00 at the Drama Theatre (area 400 th anniversary of Tyumen).

The action will take place within days of united action against political repression in many Russian cities. In Tyumen, the organizer of the meeting was the movement of "Autonomous Action - Tyumen, with the support of the Council of Citizens' initiative groups and Tyumen.

November 20 at Troyes French province of Champagne-Ardenne was a picket of solidarity with the defenders of Khimki forest and community activists in Russia.

At one of the stands with the literature, along with the petition, submitted pictures illustrating events in Khimki.

In the coming days, the petition c cemidesyatyu signatures will be addressed in Khimki city court and the President of the Russian Federation.

In the picket was attended by about a dozen anarchists and urban ecology.

Within days of united action against the prosecution of Maxim Solopova and Alexei Gaskarov in Ufa was a protest picket. He was held in pouring rain and dank autumn wind. Law enforcement, ignoring its responsibility to "protect" the public event disappeared in government vehicles.

More to read on the site of blood pressure Ufa

Nov. 14 at 14 o'clock near the monument Griboyedov (m Net ponds, Turgenev) in a single day of action to end the prosecution of Khimki hostages to be held a rally organized by the Committee for the Liberation of Khimki hostages and welfare movement Khimki forest. November 13 marks 2 years since the attack on the defender Khimki Forest Michael Beketov who remained disabled, but, nevertheless, November 9, 2010, was found guilty of slandering the Mayor of Khimki.

October 30 in Krasnodar had to pass a picket in memory of victims of political repression. Notice of the shares was transferred to the organizers of the local administration. Under the ridiculous pretext officials refused to agree on actions (banned it), citing the absence of the city address the rally. Despite the prohibition of unlawful government and realizing their right to freedom of assembly and notification procedures for public events, protesters gathered in the square of Marshal Zhukov, holding posters on the past and present political repression in Russia.

November 12–15, 2010: New International Days of Action

We Demand that the Russian Authorities Close the Khimki Case and Drop All Charges against Alexei Gaskarov and Maxim Solopov

In late October 2010, Russian social activists Alexei Gaskarov and Maxim Solopov were released from police custody on their own recognizance by the Khimki Municipal Court. They had been arrested a day after a protest in defense of the Khimki Forest on July 28, 2010. Now they are free pending trial, but the criminal case against them has not been closed. They have been formally charged with disorderly conduct, and if convicted, they could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison.