City Hall said Thursday that it would not allow a rock concert to be staged on Pushkin Square this weekend to protest the partial destruction of the Khimki forest for a highway, even after several well-known rockers had agreed to play.
City Hall said in a statement that it had authorized a rally on the square but received no request for a concert and would not permit one.
A concert on Pushkin Square would also require permission from the nearby Pushkinsky movie theater, which has not been obtained, City Hall spokesman Alexander Khokhlov told Interfax.
But organizers of the rally, titled “We All Live in the Khimki Forest,” said they never intended to hold a concert but only a rally where musicians in attendance could perform if they desired.
Earlier reports said the event would be hosted by legendary rock critic Artemy Troitsky and include performances by DDT frontman Yury Shevchuk, Alexander F. Sklyar, Barto, Televizor, OtZvuki Mu and others.
The rally is to protest federal authorities' decision to raze part of the centuries-old oak forest north of Moscow to make way for an $8 billion highway to St. Petersburg.
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.