A very interesting message was posted on November 15^th on the official government website of the Altai Republic. It concerned a rather landmark event: at a meeting with journalists from the Far Eastern and Siberian Federal Districts, representative of the editor in chief of STRC (state tele-radio company) “Altai Mountains” Aisulu Kyygasova posed a question to the President of Russia. But, it was not about unemployment, the fall of “Progress,” nor the Altai Valley. Instead, it was about (you won’t believe it!) the “Altai” gas pipeline. And the President replied!

He replied that Ukok “is truly one of our gems—both for its history and for tourism. And of course we should never—even in pursuit of the noblest goal—ruin the environment and create problems for future generations. In the development of this pipeline and its potential routing, all environmental requirements must be taken into the highest account. And in fact, we already have experience with this. We have recently made a decision regarding the Olympics, a site where there are also many natural areas and nature reserves, and we are trying to maintain it all. Do not worry—in the case of the Altai Mountains as well—everything should be fine.”

And here’s where we should take warning.

For we know what “trying to maintain it all” meant for the construction of Olympic facilities in Sochi. For example, changing the boundaries of several nature reserves (diminishing their size, or course). In 2008, the boundaries of the Rosregister Caucasus Biosphere Reserve (an object of UNESCO, no less) were changed to accommodate the construction of a road to a Gazprom resort. The area of Utrish Reserve was reduced to allow the construction of roads and a recreation facility right in the heart of the reserve. This recreation facility, by the way, was initiated by the Office of Administration Affairs of the President. The entire forestry fund of the Teberda Biosphere Reserve project was eliminated in anticipation of building Olympic facilities.

Moreover, the State Duma is currently reviewing a law allowing the construction of sporting facilities in protected areas (including reserves and national parks!).

Was the President referring to this practice in the statement that “all environmental requirements must be taken into the highest account?” Is this what the leadership of our country means by “everything should be fine?” Are the people of Mountainous Altai (and of the entire Ob’ basin) to take heart if the same practices are applied to the Altai Mountains (the origin of the Ob’) as were applied in the preparations for the Olymics?

Unfortunately, the leaders of our Republic very bizarrely see this as the solution to all of our regional problems. All future employment is to come from either the HES (hydroelectric station) or the Altai pipeline. All production, either from the HES or the Altai pipeline. All budgetary woes solved either by the HES or the Altai pipeline.

And how is the budget going to be balanced if, according to the Tax and Budget codes, income tax now fully enters into the Federal Budget? And to even obtain this profit, a certain volume of gas must be sold, at a certain price.

What kind of businesses will be created by the Altai gas pipeline? Gasification? And where will people work to earn income sufficient to cover the rising cost of “gas services?” (Incidentally, one of the main conditions for Russia’s accession into the WTO was to bring domestic energy prices to global levels.) Never in any of the Altai Republic policy documents is anything mentioned of this—just some general words about a brighter future.

But, environmentally sustainable agricultural practices, and successful food, textile, and wood industries are alive and well in this region today. There are successful examples of solving energy problems with renewable sources. If only our local leaders would take notice of these projects. But, alas, we are waiting for manna from heaven.

Here, truly, we are” cutting off the nose to spite the face.” We’ll demolish the sources of our rivers so that our environment will no longer sustain anyone—migrants will arrive via the road constructed alongside the pipeline, and there will be nothing. No forests, no water…and they will be back where they started.

P.S. Special thanks to Aisulu Kyygasova from the defenders of Ukok. You rarely meet a journalist capable of asking the head of state the most important question at the right time. In fact, she has done something that public representatives have yet to accomplish. And no matter that the President’s answer was ominous. What is important is that the question has been asked.