A coalition of Russian NGOs has written a letter to Vinci urging the company once more not to participate in the project. Vinci has also been accused by the group of failing to adhere to the principles of the UN Global Compact. In a letter to the Global Compact Office, the Movement to Defend Khimki Forest and Bankwatch state that the company has violated 3 of the 10 principles, on promoting human rights, avoiding complicity in human rights abuses, and supporting a precautionary approach to environmental challenges.
According to the activists, Vinci has failed to condemn the human rights abuses committed against opponents of the project's current routing. Louis-Roch Burgard, CEO of Vinci Concessions, has openly said that he is not worried at all: "We are dealing with tens of projects in France, Europe and throughout the world and sometimes some projects face opposition. It is not the source of concern for us, otherwise we should be changing business."
The activists say that when President Medvedev suspended tree felling works last year, the company even lobbied via the French Chamber of Commerce to move ahead with the construction as soon as possible.
Source: CEE Bankwatch Network (11/4/2011).
