Russian authorities in the Ural Mountains region of Chelyabinsk cut down a spruce tree growing on a local resident’s property so that it could be installed in a town square as a New Year decoration, the Telegram news channel Podyem reported Wednesday.
Authorities in the town of Minyar, which has a population of around 8,500 people, published a video online last week showing the felled tree being loaded onto a truck’s flatbed.
“The most beautiful spruce tree is coming to Minyar,” the video’s description read.
Elena Shaldina, who owns the property where the tree was growing, said her husband planted the spruce more than four decades ago.
“The administration didn't tell us anything. They didn't ask us for permission,” Shaldina told Podyem.
“Something needs to be done so that this does not go unpunished,” she said.
Officials in Minyar later apologized for cutting down the spruce, claiming that public records listed the land where the tree grew as “ownerless” since the “heirs did not register the property correctly.”
“The administration… apologizes to the family. We will strive to provide compensation for the damages caused. As a replacement for the felled spruce, we propose planting a new tree,” an official statement read.
This was not the first time that officials in Russia have chopped town trees located on private land so that they could later be used in public spaces.
Last year, officials in central Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region cut down several blue spruce trees on private property without notifying the owner and used them as New Year decorations.
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.
