A small victory: we are shutting down two initiatives aimed at destroying nature.

Comrades! Together, we are shutting down two public initiatives — one against a bill allowing the killing of Red List animals, and another against clear-cutting protective forests. Both projects will remain under public monitoring to track any possible changes. For now, I believe we can consider them closed.

We have actively opposed both of these bills since 2024, doing everything we could to stop them. It was precisely due to public outcry that officials failed to push these initiatives forward. However, they have changed tactics — now, instead of officially closing failed projects (as they should), they simply abandon and forget them.

I believe this is done deliberately to shift public attention, while they quietly attempt to reintroduce the same ideas under new project numbers as part of other legislative initiatives.

Let me explain in more detail.

Project on Clear-Cutting Protective Forests in Mountain Ecosystems — No. 145734

With this bill, officials attempted to allow clear-cutting of forests classified as protective, in order to build ski resorts. But thanks to our work and the active stance of the entire environmental community in Russia, they were unable to push the bill through.

Therefore, in 2025, they quietly launched a new initiative under the number No. 155253, while simply abandoning the old one — deliberately refusing to officially close it!

Project on the Killing of Red Book Animals — No. 148661

With this bill, the Ministry of Natural Resources aimed to authorize the killing of rare animals. The first attempt was back in 2023 — and we managed to halt it! The second attempt came in August 2024, and after six months of struggle, we were able to stop their predatory agenda again.

The bill was abandoned, but instead of giving up, they decided to weaken the status of Red List species through a "wholesale project" — No. 156218 — which seeks to simultaneously repeal a whole package of crucial documents protecting nature reserves and endangered species in Russia.

What does this mean?

First and foremost — our work delivers results. We have ensured that these old initiatives were not passed! And most importantly, this fight has been going on for years — and so far, it's on the side of the people. These victories belong to those who find the strength to stand up for nature.

Therefore, I believe we’ve won the first round on both bills. Our next task is to concentrate efforts on new legislative initiatives being advanced by officials — we must not allow them to tear apart Russia’s protected lands.

Thus, I hereby declare public initiatives No. 148661 and No. 145734 officially closed, while keeping them under constant observation (in monitoring status). If any activity resumes, we will respond immediately!

Even if they try, any future actions will clearly be manipulative and in violation of the rules for submitting legislative proposals. That would be a blatant breach — and officials know it won’t work in their favor.

Now, all efforts must be focused on fighting new projects aimed at the destruction of wildlife. Spreading ourselves too thin is critically dangerous — we must stay focused on the top-priority threats.

Thank you all for your dedication to the fight! Every victory we achieve is thanks to you — to those who dedicate themselves to the greatest Mission on Earth: the fight for Life.

It may be a small victory — but it is a victory nonetheless.

© PAVEL PASHKOV