Round Table Discussion about Chimki case: European Involvement in Corruption in Russia?

On 26th of June my colleagues Satu Hassi (Finland) und myself had organised a round table discussion in the European Parliament which main topic was the „European Involvement in Corruption in Russia“. The event was also patronaged by French MEPs Michele Rivasi  (Greens/EFA) and Corinne Lepage (ALDE).

Russian side has been represented by Oksana Chelysheva(journalist), Evgenia Chirikova and Nikolay Lyaskin( member of the opposition movement "Solidarnost"). A precise example of European involvement has been put on the agenda, namely involvement of French company Vinci in the constructions of the highway project through Khimki Forest near Moscow. This project has been highly controversial and attracted attention from the affected citizens as well as internationally.

Evgenia Chirikova was among those citizens living close to the forest and noticed in time that unique oakwood is in danger of being cut down. Since 2009 Chirikova and other civil activists are fighting for the continued existence of the unique forest. For their engagement they are pursued by russian administration and were repeatedly supposed to violence. Because of this fight Chirikova became an active human rights activist and opposition leader. In 2012 she was awarded with the Global Environmental Prize.

The highway project violates Russian law which forbids construction works in any forestry areas. Khimki Forest is an important recreation attraction for millions of citizens from Moscow and surrounding areas. During the investigation of the project they NGO "Save the Khimki forest" discovered that the main beneficiary of the project earns Vinci acting as a North Western Concession Company in Russia.  Closer examinination with support of Bankwatch Network revealed a complex web of offshore entities ending in the British Virgin Islands and the involvement of Arkady Rotenberg, Putins friend and judo coach.

The most unacceptable thing for me is that European public banks as European  Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank were considering financing this project. Unfortunatly, neither representatives from Vinci could take part in the round table nor deliver any kind of response. My and my colleagues´ duty as representatives of the European Union is to make sure by all possible means that no EU money is used for dubious projects like this and that the eco-aktivists are protected against human rights violations. Therefore we are to raise awareness over issues of that kind.