Khimki

In a suburb of Moscow called Khimki, at least three journalists and one activist have been savagely attacked in the past year.

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Over the summer, two young men in a crowd that broke windows and spray-painted slogans on the Khimki City Hall were jailed and face seven years in prison.

Trying to save a forest, and change Russia Kathy Lally 2010

Today's battle rages over Khimki Forest just outside Moscow, where 200-year-old oaks stand so thick and silent that traffic from the nearby highway sounds like the hum of a lazy mosquito, leaves fall to the ground with a veritable clatter and iPhones warble in the air.

Trying to save a forest, and change Russia Kathy Lally 2010

Khimki, where the czars once hunted, has all the drama, sweep and conflict of a Russian opera.

Trying to save a forest, and change Russia Kathy Lally 2010

Their Defenders of Khimki Forest movement has persuaded President Dmitry Medvedev to temporarily halt tree-felling and reassess the project, which has had powerful proponents, including Yuri Luzhkov, who was fired as Moscow's mayor after publicly criticizing Medvedev's decision.

Trying to save a forest, and change Russia Kathy Lally 2010

Alexander Talyshkin, a 77-year-old Khimki native, cherishes the woods and hopes the people will be heard.

Trying to save a forest, and change Russia Kathy Lally 2010

But Mr. D'Antoni also acknowledged that Mr. Mozgov's lack of production last season with Khimki caused some concern.

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The buyout from his contract with Khimki was prohibitively expensive until June 2011, when it would be reduced to $500,000.

Seven Feet of Russian Mystery 2010

Mr. Ndiaye said he eventually persuaded Khimki to trim the cost of Mr. Mozgov's buyout.

Seven Feet of Russian Mystery 2010

And it is no wonder that, despite the raging fires, officials have in recent weeks managed to find the personnel and resources to crack down on ongoing protests against cutting down part of the Khimki forest on the outskirts of Moscow, innocuous opposition rallies in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and a protest this past Thursday against the AWOL mayor of Moscow.

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