Prominent Russian Environmentalist To Run For Khimki Mayor

Yevgenia Chirikova

The leader of the Khimki Forest Defenders movement says she has decided to run for mayor of Khimki, near Moscow, in October elections.

Yevgenia Chirikova said she made the decision at the request of her supporters.

Chirikova also urged other leaders of Russian environmental groups to run for municipal and executive offices.

Chirikova's movement became well known in Russia for its campaign aimed at persuading Moscow authorities to cancel plans to route a Moscow-St. Petersburg highway through the old-growth Khimki Forest.

The campaign led to delays in the highway building plan.

The Khimki mayoral election is scheduled for October 14.


Based on reporting by Interfax and ITAR-TASS