Anti-Seliger is a forum of civil and environmental activists that took place from 17 to 20 June 2011 in
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eigh ...
, in the
Khimki Forest
Khimki Forest is a forest near the Russian city of Moscow covering about 1000 hectares. It is part of the so-called "Green Belt" around Moscow. An $8 billion high speed road, the Moscow–Saint Petersburg motorway (M11), has been proposed to go thr ...
near
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
. The initiative to hold the forum has been proposed by the Movement in Defence of the Khimki Forest.
According to the leader of the movement,
Yevgenia Chirikova, Anti-Seliger is an alternative to the pro-Kremlin
forum at Lake Seliger. On the other hand, it is a place for meetings and discussions for civil activists, who want to unite and stand on their rights.
[Евгения Чирикова. «Антиселигер-2011». Грани.ру 3.06.2011](_blank)
/ref>
The organisers had invited civil and eco-activists, politicians, artists, and all active citizens who are willing to support the protection of nature and civil society development. The programme included lectures, musical and literary performances, exhibitions, competitions, debates, walks and tree planting in the Khimki forest.
Speakers included Yevgenia Chirikova, journalist Oleg Kashin, democracy activist Oleg Kozlovsky
Oleg (russian: Олег), Oleh ( uk, Олег), or Aleh ( be, Алег) is an East Slavic given name. The name is very common in Russia, Ukraine and Belаrus. It derives from the Old Norse ''Helgi'' ( Helge), meaning "holy", "sacred", or "bles ...
, former Speaker of the Federation Council
The Federation Council (russian: Сове́т Федера́ции – ''Soviet Federatsii'', common abbreviation: Совфед – ''Sovfed''), or Senate (officially, starting from July 1, 2020) ( ru , Сенат , translit = Senat), is th ...
Sergey Mironov
Sergey Mikhailovich Mironov (russian: Серге́й Миха́йлович Миро́нов; born 14 February 1953) is a Russian politician. He was Chairman of the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament, from 2001 to 201 ...
, the leader of Yabloko Party
The Russian United Democratic Party Yabloko (RUDP Yabloko) (russian: Росси́йская объединённая демократи́ческая па́ртия «Я́блоко», Rossíyskaya obyedinyónnaya demokratícheskaya pártiya "Y ...
Sergey Mitrokhin, politologist Alexander Morozov, anti-corruption activist Alexey Navalny
Alexei Anatolievich Navalny ( rus, links=no, Алексей Анатольевич Навальный, , ɐlʲɪkˈsʲej ɐnɐˈtolʲjɪvʲɪtɕ nɐˈvalʲnɨj; born 4 June 1976) is a Russian opposition leader, lawyer, and anti-corruption act ...
, a leader of the Solidarity
''Solidarity'' is an awareness of shared interests, objectives, standards, and sympathies creating a psychological sense of unity of groups or classes. It is based on class collaboration.''Merriam Webster'', http://www.merriam-webster.com/dicti ...
movement Boris Nemtsov
Boris Yefimovich Nemtsov ( rus, Бори́с Ефи́мович Немцо́в, p=bɐˈrʲis jɪˈfʲiməvʲɪtɕ nʲɪmˈtsof; 9 October 195927 February 2015) was a Russian physicist and liberal politician. He was involved in the introduction ...
, the head of Transparency International
Transparency International e.V. (TI) is a German registered association founded in 1993 by former employees of the World Bank. Based in Berlin, its nonprofit and non-governmental purpose is to take action to combat global corruption with civil ...
—Russia Elena Panfilova, journalists Valery Panyushkin and Leonid Parfenov
Leonid Gennadyevich Parfyonov (russian: Леонид Геннадьевич Парфёнов, born January 26, 1960, in Cherepovets, Vologda Oblast) is a Russian journalist, news presenter, TV producer and author of many documentary TV shows. ...
, art critic Artemy Troitsky
Artemy Kivovich Troitsky (; , born 16 June 1955 in Yaroslavl) is a Russian journalist, music critic, concert promoter, radio host, and academic who has lectured on music journalism at Moscow State University.
"He is an anarchist, pacifist and one ...
, popular blogger Ilya Varlamov and others.
Some other well-known Russians did not participate, but endorsed the event including State Duma deputy Gennady Gudkov
Gennady Vladimirovich Gudkov (russian: Генна́дий Влади́мирович Гудко́в; born 15 August 1956, Kolomna) is a Russian politician and businessman. ''The Moscow Times'' described him in 2012 as "one of parliament's most voc ...
and human rights activist Lyudmila Alexeyeva
Lyudmila Mikhaylovna Alexeyeva (russian: Людми́ла Миха́йловна Алексе́ева, ; 20 July 1927 – 8 December 2018) was a Russian historian and human-rights activist who was a founding member in 1976 of the Moscow Helsin ...
.
The participants were provided with some tents, as well as hot meals, toilet and washing facilities as well as transportation by buses from Moscow. Two requirements were imposed on the participants during their stay: respect for each other and abstention from drinking alcohol.[Все в лес! Организаторы «Антиселигера» попросили Медведева не мешать проведению форума. Каспаров.ру 15.06.11](_blank)
/ref> Despite presence of some police on site, there have been no reports of any conflicts or violence from either side.
Yevgenia Chirikova was prediction the next Anti-Seliger to be held probably in August 2012.Антиселигер. Итоги. Финам ФМ. 28/06/2011
/ref>
References
{{Reflist
External links
Official website
Articles
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russian-activists-meet-in-forest/2011/06/20/AGri66dH_story.html Russian activists share Woodstock moment in Khimki Forest outside Moscow. The Washington Post. 21 June 2011]
Politics of Russia
Environment of Russia
Education in Russia