Laura Williams, the U.S. born co-founder of WWF-Russia and a pioneer conservationist, died in a horse-riding accident on Sunday.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization that focuses on wilderness preservation. Williams, a Colorado-native who moved to Moscow in 1993, helped establish the NGO's Russian branch in the 1990s and launched a WWF office in Kamchatka in 2006.
“It is impossible to describe how much she meant, and how much she has done for the Fund. The story of WWF Russia began with Laura,” the organization wrote in an online statement on Sunday.
According to WWF, prior to the accident, Williams had set up a project called “Human and Horse” which aimed “to promote the idea of equality between animals and humans.”
Williams' husband, the Russian nature photographer and conservationist Igor Shpilenok, wrote in a Facebook post Sunday that she had died in an unfortunate accident in the saddle.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
