abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

27 Sep 2011

Author:
Movement to Defend Khimki Forest (EcoOborona) and CEE Bankwatch Network

[PDF] Response to VINCI's claims regarding the Moscow-St. Petersburg motorway [Russia]

See all tags
We have examined Vinci’s response to our letter concerning the company’s complicity in human right violations, environmental destruction and corruption in connection with the Moscow-St.Petersburg toll motorway project...[A]lthough we welcome the fact that VINCI is reinforcing its analytical and risk control tools with respect to fundamental Human Rights the company did not manage to provide satisfactory answers to our concerns. The main issue is that we do not believe that it is possible for VINCI to avoid complicity in human rights abuses and environmental destruction...if it continues to participate in this project...Russian subcontractors like Teplotekhnik, Vytyaz, Forward-trass, etc., have been hired to do all the “dirty work” by Avtodor State Company...While we are glad to hear that VINCI has at least undertaken a few steps to look into the acts of violence and repression surrounding the case, we consider these far from sufficient...The only way for VINCI to have a serious impact on stopping the violence and repression of activists and...to make sure it is not complicit in human rights abuses - would be to suspend its participation in the project until all the cases are investigated and concluded, or to push for a change in the routing which would see an end to the protests and therefore to the violence against activists. [Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited VINCI to respond, but it has not done so.]

Timeline