About 100 residents of the capital of Daghestan, Makhachkala, gathered in the Lenin Kosmomol Park on 29 January for a rally. The civil action was organised to protest against the felling of old trees for the construction of a new museum.

According to the website Kavkaz.Realii, preparations for construction will start any day now; appropriate funds have already been allocated in the city budget.

Forty trees will need to be cut down for the construction of the new facility, and the authorities don’t intend to plant new trees in their place. Protesters argue that there are only five green spaces left in the city. Over the years, the number and sizes of green spaces in the city have reduced, as new constructions around have taken their place, with the government selling the land to private investors.

The rally in Lenin Kosmomol Park was organised by Daghestani daily Chernovik. A guide explained to the gathered people the hundred years’ history of the park. The rally resulted in the formation of a group of activists who will defend the park in the courts. In addition, the activists prepared an appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin to consider their cause.