Activists Cycle Around Threatened Russian Forest

Save Khimki Forest movement leader Yevgenia Chirikova said that the action was being held to mark World Car-Free Day.

MOSCOW -- Ecologists plan to cycle around the Khimki forest near Moscow, the focus of protests this year over a planned highway, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.

Save Khimki Forest movement leader Yevgenia Chirikova told RFE/RL that the action was being held to mark World Car-Free Day.

Chirikova's movement has been fighting for months to halt construction of a new Moscow-St. Petersburg highway through the Khimki forest.

The deforestation and construction works have been suspended following repeated protests this summer.

On September 21, Teplotekhnik, the company engaged in building the highway, filed a lawsuit against 11 members of Save Khimki Forest, including Chirikova.

The company is demanding 8 million rubles ($260,000) in compensation for financial losses incurred as a result of the movement's actions.