As on Febrayry 18th, 2009 - 41 day since the crash of the Mi-171 helicopter as a result of shooting from the air at endangered and legally protected Argali sheep, there is still no criminal investigation of the evidences on VIP-poaching and corruption.
MEETING WITH APPEALS FOR INVESTIGATION
WILL BE HELD IN THE CAPITAL OF ALTAI REPUBLIC
on 22 February 2009
To the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry. A. Medvedev
On January 9, 2009, a Mi-171 helicopter crashed in the Ulandryk canyon (the Kosh-Agach district of Altai Republic, Russia), near the Mongolian border, killing seven people onboard and injuring two. This air crash had a profound affect on our society not only because of the tragic loss of life, but also because of the fact that it was caused by an illegal helicopter hunting.
While expressing our condolences to the relatives of the deceased, we believe that the incident must be investigated impartially and in accordance to the Legislation of the Russian Federation. We demand that the law-enforcement bodies carry out an objective investigation and bring to justice thaose responsible for the loss of life.
Abusing their official positions, a group of senior officials from the Russian President's Administration and the Government of Altai Republic were helicopter hunting the argali sheep, the endangered species that are under protection by government law. On one of the photographs of the crash site, published by the Altapress.ru website, the carcasses of Altai mountain sheep, or argali, are clearly visible next to the helicopter wreckage. There is no doubt that a crime punishable under paragraphs of the Russian Criminal Law, 258 (an illegal hunt) and 285 (an abuse of official power), has been perpetrated.
We, the public organizations, expected that Mr. Berdnikov, the Chairman of the Government of the Altai Republic, would clarify the situation and publicly offer his condolences to the relatives of the deceased. Instead, he made a rather cynical statement: "The Government of the Altai Republic had no connection to either helicopter or a hunt if there was a hunt. There were no directions or orders given to persons aboard to take part in this trip, they all went on their own free will." Then he added sarcastically: "Those who have means, they pay for a helicopter. Those who don't, they pay for a car. Those who have no means at all, they pay for a horse. Those who have no money for a horse, go on foot."
However, the investigation found out that the helicopter was chartered from "Gazpromavia" by Mr. Bannyh, the Vice Premier of the Government of the Altai Republic and the representative of the Altai Republic at the Government of the Russian Federation. The permission for the helicopter to enter the state border territory was signed by Mr. Paltaller, who is a Deputy Governor of the Altai Republic. According to unofficial sources, the helicopter charter payment was made by Ms. Shubina and Mr.Kozlov, two businesspeople from Novosibirsk and Barnaul respectively. The Federal Law classifies the payment for a service, made by a private person for a civil servant, as a corruption offense.
We believe that the immoral and corrupt ways of the Government of the Altai Republic are the root cause of this tragedy. The helicopter hunting of endangered species of animals was perpetrated for private gain. In our opinion, it was no coincidence that this VIP hunting trip for the influential people was organized a year before the re-appointment of a new Governor of the Altai Republic.
We are astonished at the cynicism of the organizers of this immoral and illegal action who, in their drive to achieve their career ambitions, had sacrificed not only the endangered animals, but also people's lives.
Because of the enormous social significance of this incident, we believe that an independent commission, consisting of the Altai Republic's deputies, must be formed in order to investigate the incident. The commission should find answers to the following questions:
1. Who paid for the helicopter charter? Can the fact of the payment be regarded as a form of a bribe to an official, taking into account that most of the passengers were high-ranking officials? 2. On what grounds did the Government of the Altai Republic apply for a permission for a private flight? 3. On what grounds did Mr. Bannyh, being a member of the Government of the Altai Republic, charter a private flight from Gazpromavia? 4. Why the actual passengers were different people than those shown on the permission application? 5. Why was the flight carried out not in a time period specified by the permission? 6. Why did a departure from an allowed route take place? 7. Did the passengers have a right to be in the state border area? 8. Would it be possible to avoid such serious consequences if the organizers didn't keep the place of hunting a secret? 9. Were criminal cases instigated on charges of corruption and poaching?
We also insist that the investigation bodies present the complete and objective report on the results of the investigation, including the culprits, to the State Assembly El Kurultai.
We ask the Russian President's Administration to give a legal and political assessment to the actions of certain members of the Government of the Altai Republic, and to review Mr. Berdnikov's qualifications to be a Chairman of the Altai Republic Government, a guarantor of the Russian Federation's Constitution and Law in the Altai Republic. If our demands are not met, we reserve the right to organize a public protest including a republic-wide meeting in accordance with the current legislation.
Nudga G. M. - deputy chairman of NP "Razvitie",
Petrov V. I. - chairman of OO "Za Respubliku",
Sazankin M. M. - co-chairman of "Ene Til",
Tabaev D. I. - chairman of OO "Chyndyk",
Kine A. K. - chairman of OO Spiritual Center "Ak Jan", Kudirmekov V. D. - chairman of the Fund of the altai people's revival and the preservation of the Altai Mountains nature "El Altai", Keluev V. K. - chairman of OO "Bilik", Paklin M. I. - chairman of OO "Russky Center", Nikonov Ju. P. - chairman of ERO ND KPE, Uhanov S. I. - member of the Russian Committee on fight against corruption, Fedorova N. P. - member of OO "Altai Republic Women Federation", Chekonov N. A. - secretary of the Altai reskom, the first secretary of the Gorno-Altaisk gorkom of KPRF, a deputy of the Altai republic, Vlasov V. V. - ataman of the Gorno-Altaisk Cossack society, Fedotov Ju. I. - ataman of the Bikatun Cossack line, Bedarev V. N. - head of k/h "Bedarev", Muytueva L. N. - OO "Russian United Alliance", Selbikov A. A. - zaisan of the Irkit family, Zjulin A. F. - deputy of the Altai republic, Dumnova N. G. - head of ARO PP "Yabloko", Alushkin P. M. - deputy chairman of ROPP "Patriots of Russia", Karatunov M. A. - chairman of RO VPP "Pravoe Delo".
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