May 16, 2008 By James Kimer

To take away and to divide up

Here’s another exclusive translation from RBK Daily, this one from Thursday, 15 May 2008. Our Russia correspondent Grigory Pasko has reported in the past on the arbitrary land seizures that await residents of Sochi in connection with the Olympics. Now the same methods are being brought to Moscow and the rest of the country. The text of the handwritten sign in the photograph reads “Hands off!!! Our house, Our fortress!! We may die, but we won’t leave.” rbcdaily051608.jpgTo take away and to divide up In Moscow private lands can now be confiscated The capital’s authorities are trying to rewrite federal legislation to suit their needs. Yesterday, the Moscow City Duma adopted an amendment to the Land Code of the RF, to allow the confiscation of private lands for state needs. By this vague formulation are implied very concrete opportunities for high-rise development lobbyists. The initiative may be transposed to the federal level, and then the conflict situation with the seizure of lands will extend to the whole country.