Last night, the conflict between Moscow residents and Don-Stroy over the illegal construction project at 41 Biryuzova Street escalated. The escalation was that Don-Stroy decided to play hardball. After another picket, activists who had been helping local residents were chased down near the metro, shot with traumatic weapons (less-lethal firearms), and beaten with bats. Nine people were injured. Four seriously. Related links: http://www.apn.ru/news/article17639.htm - Pyotr Miloserdov vojk speaks in an interview with APN http://www.nr2.ru/moskow/136209.html - testimony from a journalist who was at the scene. http://www.nr2.ru/moskow/136233.html http://marossiya.livejournal.com/420827.html - from a female participant in the events Let me add this: I've seen Don-Stroy's security. I went to the construction site a couple of weeks ago and spoke with them. The last time I saw "security" in such a caricatured, textbook form was probably back in 1997. Literally, without any exaggeration: mountain shepherd types in tracksuits, with cauliflower ears and the matching mannerisms. The bosses ride around in black SUVs. The rest are hungry athletes, brought in from somewhere like Gudermes (a town in Chechnya) to earn extra money as enforcers. Their methods aren't original either: whenever residents gather near the site, they come out in a group of about thirty, surround them, and start with their usual, "Uhhh... hey... what did you come here for, looking for trouble?" Naturally, that makes quite an impression on the elderly women in the neighborhood initiative group. Anyone who doesn't believe it can go there and see for themselves. I went there after they first roughed up the housing activists. I spoke to the man in charge. After a long period of staring me down, he realized that his glare wasn't having much effect on me and admitted they had been in the wrong. He promised that from then on the confrontation would stay within legal bounds. As we can see, he didn't keep his word. I don't think this should be allowed to go unpunished. Today, August 23, at 8:00 p.m., there will be a general meeting of protest group activists who want to help the residents of 41 Biryuzova Street. Oktyabrskoye Pole metro station, center of the hall. No one but us will help them. Anyone who wants to join, come along. Let me note that this is not about dragging those monkeys off the construction site and breaking their legs. Although after yesterday, they deserve it. Only peaceful and lawful defense of our rights. Trying to use their own methods against them will only make the situation worse. For any questions, contact Pyotr Miloserdov or other members of the coordinating council of initiative groups. More broadly, in the near future we will organize a general assembly of residents of the Shchukino district to express our attitude toward what is happening and determine the format of further action. If you want to help, come and spread this information.