March 10, 2005 - 11:32 AMT
MUSCOVITES PROTEST AGAINST BUILDING ARMENIAN BUSINESS CENTER
March 10 with the support of the Committee for Protection of Muscovites a mass protest action of the Parental Committee was held, Regnum news agency reported. The parents of the children of the kindergarten N1189 protested against liquidation of the kindergarten. As reported by Yabloko Party Press Service, those gathered had posters, on which it was written: "Let's protect our children!", "No casino and hotel on the place of the kindergarten!", "Yuri Mikhailovich! Stop the building!" and others. It should be reminded that according to the intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Armenia a place should be given to the Armenian party for building of a hotel and a business center in Moscow. The authorities of the capital determined that the kindergarten is most suitable for being demolished to that end. Moscow authorities suggest the parents a "new" kindergarten as compensation: it is in a breakdown condition, is 4.5 times smaller in space and does not fit sanitary norms, the source reported. "We have nothing against the building of the Business Center of the Republic of Armenia, but we do not think that tens of children should be thrown away from their kindergarten for that. The city should suggest another building site to the Armenian party," considers Alexey Navalny, the Executive Secretary of the Committee for Protection of Muscovites.