Very few people outside Russia heard about the tragedy of the helicopter crash, that happened on 9 January 2009 in the south of the Altai Republic - on the Sailugem mountain ridge 8 km from the border between Russia and Mongolia. This is the photo from the crash site, that leaked to public from the rescue team.There were 7 people killed, 2 severely injured and 2 slightly injured - when they were found on the 11th of January. Among those dead - the Representative of Russian President to State Duma Mr. Alexander Kosopkin, the Head of the Altai Republic Game Management Agency Mr. Kaimin, other VIPs, two pilots and one locally famous musician. Among survivors - Deputy Governor of the Altai Republic Mr. Anatoly Bannykh, second pilot and two VIPs, the latter heavily injured and still in rehabilitation.
The wrong side of this tragedy is that Argali is included in the Red Data Book of Russia, and hunting on this species is completely prohibited. The photo above became a documented fact that the VIP trip on that crashed helicopter was in fact a VIP Argali poaching.
In total 4 Argali were shot, while the group in this part of the Altai ranges from 200 to 600 animals migrating seasonally across the border with Mongolia. Altai Argali is also the flagship species of WWF Altai-Sayan Ecoregion Programme.
Since the 13th of January when the photo was published Russian public is calling upon the President and the State Chief Prosecutor of Russia to launch investigation of this criminal case of combined poaching and corruption, that led to helicopter crash and the deaths of people. So far the prosecutors investigate only the technical reasons of helicopter crash. Besides, as soon as the Argali poaching was made known to public - decision was taken that all investigation is made "temporarily secret".
Many people feel condolence to relatives and friends of those who are dead and injured - but at the same time furious that the poaching at such high level took place. It is known it was not the only one. There are at least 50 known comments/applications from various people calling for the President to say his word on this case: for nature, for law enforcement, and for justice. WWF Russia and GreenPeace sent the letter to the Main Prosecution Service.
The President keeps silent on this as on today.
Two days ago representatives of 23 NGOs of the Altai Republic agreed on a joint open letter to the President of Russia, the Chief Prosecutor, to the Head of State Duma and a number of other organisations - demanding for the start of investigation on the fact of poaching and possible top-level corruption, and also on the open sharing of investigation findings.
This petition is available for signing at the link; petition text is in Russian, but signing page has English hints. Your voice may help. If you want some additional information on this issue - so far only the WWF Russia pages are available in English here. More information will be added during the coming week here in this blog.
Despite loud and strong negative public opinion on the reasons of this tragedy and the things that took place after the crash (hiding the information and silencing the whole story) the leaders of the Altai Republic are still in their positions. Including even the Deputy Governor, one of the four survivors and direct participant and most likely the funder and organiser of the poaching trip. President Dmitry Medvedev also keeps silent, as said above.
This whole case is already gaining the name Altaigate - as it is a symbol of large-scale neglect to National Law on such a high level.
Law enforcement within Russia is the challenge for the Russian sociaty itself. The same with corruption - it is assumed that Russian officials will not consider any judgement or opinion on this issue from abroad.
But you may help from abroad to call upon the President of Russia Mr. Dmitry Medvedev to clarify for the world the curcumstances that legally protected animals - endangered Altai Argali - were killed without permits by the group of people who should in their positions be the first to secure enforcement of the law. You can address Mr. Medvedev in English here by e-mail.
Additional links except the link to:
- Discussion in Russian at the only independent media that covers this issue in the Altai.
- Special issue of "Novaya Gazeta" (top democratic newspaper of Russia, in Russian, with photos).
- Daily updated summaries on the issue in one of the Russian blogs - on Altaigate.
http://talks.guns.ru/forums/icons/forum_pictures/001800/1800735.jpg
http://talks.guns.ru/forums/icons/forum_pictures/001800/1800741.jpg
Large scale photo that is included here can be downloaded in high resolution from the Altapress post/discussion - direct link is here: http://altapress.ru/bigphoto/vertolet.jpg
These photos were provided by an anonymous source(s) for public and press, and are also used in various media.
Yours,
Surviving Altai Argali
P.S. It is hard to be often on e-mail, so please be patient, I will not be able to reply soon.
