Thousands march against Moscow government’s demolition plans
MOSCOW — Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Moscow on Sunday to rally against a bill to tear down Soviet-era low-rise apartment buildings.
Protesters, mostly young and middle-aged couples, gathered on a central street to rally against arguably Russia’s largest redevelopment project to pull down entire neighbourhoods of Soviet-era prefabricated blocks that were built under and named for former leader Nikita Khrushchev.
City Hall has insisted the buildings, known as “khrushchevki”, are too dilapidated and outdated, while many residents and activists see the plans as a ruse to make way for high-rises in some of Moscow’s leafiest neighbourhoods.
The State Duma rushed to pass the first reading of a bill on the demolition in Moscow last month which will force the residents in what City Hall says are dilapidated blocks to vacate their apartments in exchange for other housing. Faced with growing criticism, the parliamentary speaker, however, suggested postponing the second reading pending a public debate.