"Improve things for the citizens, not the prisoners": Ulan-Ude residents are sounding the alarm against the construction of a new 3000-bed prison colony in the city.
Activists from the microdistrict contacted the editorial office of NeMoskva Glass factoryThey said they only learned about the planned construction at the beginning of summer. The administration insists it's just a plan for now. But local residents are categorically opposed to the new facility and fear their voices will simply go unheard.
"We held village meetings, wrote to all authorities, and attended meetings with the authorities. We surveyed 5000 people and collected 4416 signatures of those opposed to the construction of the colony." — the activist told NeMoskva Valentine Paluto. - In our neighborhood, 5750 people have the right to vote. That means almost 100% of Steklozavod residents are against it. Why can't they take this into account and listen to us? Apparently, they're attracted by our already developed infrastructure and the opportunity to save on construction costs."
To build the colony, the authorities will have to clear a forest that local residents themselves restored after a fire several years ago. Furthermore, a military training ground is located near the proposed site: "Now most of them have left for the Northeastern Military District, and the training ground is half empty. Imagine if one of the prisoners escapes and seizes a military facility?"
At the same time, the authorities of both Ulan-Ude and the governor of Buryatia Alexey Tsydenov They are asking residents of the Glass Factory to "think about what they are giving up"—they are promising to repair roads, reopen stores, add additional buses, and expand the number of jobs created by the new facility after the colony opens in the neighborhood.
"The Glass Factory has a wastewater treatment plant, three dispensaries, a hospital and a clinic, a school, and three kindergartens. There's plenty here to improve the neighborhood. Not for the prisoners, but for the townspeople," Valentina assures"Furthermore, activists and I visited the Yuzhlag microdistrict and Barsoev Street in Ulan-Ude, where the prison and pretrial detention center are located. We spoke with local residents and saw that the area was in complete disarray and disrepair."
Palyuto says this raises a logical question: if the administration can't fix up the existing facilities, will it beautify what it plans to build in the Glass Factory?
"Now we want to be noticed and heard: we're categorically against it! But knowing the local authorities and the lengths they're willing to go, we're afraid it will be a unfair fight and ultimately pass us by.", says Valentina.
