Double standards: The enterprise ordered the special machinery and vehicles from a private firm owned by local "believers" who are members of the largest Protestant church in Smila, "Blaha Vist", headed by Oleksandr Kovalenko (a former member of Smila City Council). For the believing owners of the firm, business apparently matters more than God's laws.
Police rudeness: The police were called to the scene several times. Officers spoke to the activists rudely and flatly refused to accept a collective report of the offence and did not draw up a report of the scene inspection.
An ecology U-turn: Environmental specialist Volodymyr Kovbasa, who came to the scene, saw the violation with the naked eye and stated directly that the felling was illegal. However, as soon as he learned the name of the customer, he instantly changed his rhetoric.
The mayor's office position: After the public outcry, Smila mayor Serhiiko responded to the community in a Facebook post and assured that the local authorities had not given permission for this felling. A few days later, deputy mayor of Smila Oleksandr Lysenko met activist Vira, who was live streaming, and on the record assured and promised to oblige the businessmen to immediately treat and revive the tree at their own expense.
Chemical burns to the tree: The next day supermarket workers continued to destroy the tree. A security guard of the Sriblianka supermarket, on the instructions of the store managers, covered the cuts with ordinary green paint. Because of negligence and a purely formal approach to the task, only a few branches were painted, not the whole tree, so not all branches received chemical burns.
Attacks on women activists: In addition to environmental vandalism, supermarket workers themselves aggressively attacked the activists who tried to stop the unlawful actions.
Humiliating the honour and dignity of a service member's family: During these events there was open humiliation of the honour and dignity of the family of a service member who is now defending Ukraine. During the live stream, the chief accountant of the Sriblianka supermarket tried to knock the phone out of the hands of activist Vira, who was recording the criminal felling. Then the accountant swore at the activist and on camera called Vira's family "fools and idiots...". Meanwhile, the activist's husband, Oleksandr Shykuta, a chief sergeant, has been on the front line for many years. And while warriors at the front defend our country from the enemy, some people in the rear allow themselves to cynically disrespect and humiliate military families.
Community pressure and the first significant result:
After activist Vira insisted, the head of the housing and utilities department Yevhen Avramenko officially promised to organise and gather all the necessary specialists, as well as the owners of the supermarket. Together, under the direct supervision of the activists and co-owners of the building, they will treat and revive the tree.
The case is under strict control of the public, RESISTANCE and the co-owners of the building, who planted this tree 40 years ago. We demand compliance with the law and accountability for everyone involved, regardless of deputy mandates!
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