Russia: Izvatas call for rally against LUKoil

Written on 21 May 2014. Posted in Russia

Today indigenous activists have notified the administration of Izhma district, that they will be holding a protest rally in Shchelyayur on May 30 near the oil wells operated by "LUKOIL-Komi". the Izvatas are a group of the Komi people, living along the Izhma river in the North of Komi republic to the Northeast of European Russia.

Krasnobor village has already seen three rallies by local indigenous residents, which are outraged at the operations of "LUKOIL-Komi" in the Izhma district, because of frequent accidents during oil extraction and oil transportation. "We believe that these accidents are often covered up by the management of LUKOIL. People are outraged at how the nature of Izhma district is being destroyed, and how the population is left without compensation or adequate support for the development of the district", the organizers say. LUKoil acting "like colonizers or occupants" "According to the Constitution, subsoil resources are property of the people, but in fact the subsoil is controlled by private companies. Therefore, the protest will demonstrate, that the local population does not agree with this state of affairs. If "LUKOIL" does not change their attitude towards the population and the environment of our region, (and in fact, they conduct themselves like colonizers or occupants), "LUKOIL" will have to withdraw from the area," say the residents. "We invite all wishing to take part. On your activity depends on your future and the future of your children. No one but ourselves will solve our problems", - the organizers of the action say.

Tags: Land rights, Climate