Moscow, 23 May 2000 (RFE/RL) - Russian environmentalists today condemned President Vladimir Putin's decision to disband the country's only federal environmental agency. Putin last week signed a decree to disband the agency in order to save money. The head of the State Committee for Environmental Protection, Viktor Danilov-Danilyan, said the transfer of his agency's responsibilities to the Natural Resources Ministry was a "step backwards" for Russia.
He charged that with the decree Putin is giving the green light to those who want to pillage Russia's fragile and polluted environment.
"The decree is a call for action for all those who want to steal from the environment. This points [the finger] at the system of environmental protection and gives [thieves] the signal to move. This is what [the decree] is."
According to Danilov-Danilyan, authorizing the Natural Resources Ministry to deal with the environment is like "asking an alcoholic what the price of vodka should be." Greenpeace Russia has also protested Putin's decision.
According to Danilov-Danilyan, authorizing the Natural Resources Ministry to deal with the environment is like "asking an alcoholic what the price of vodka should be." Greenpeace Russia has also protested Putin's decision.