A garbage incineration plant reportedly owned by the son of Russia’s attorney general has been filmed spewing purple smoke on the eastern outskirts of Moscow for at least the third time in as many years.
Activists seeking to shut down the MSZ-4 plant have long complained about its bad odor and adverse environmental impact. The plant, said to be majority-owned by the Russian prosecutor general’s youngest son, Igor Chaika, burns over a quarter million tons of solid waste per year.
“MSZ-4 is painting Muscovites’ lives with bright colors for the third day [straight],” quipped the author of a widely shared tweet showing plumes of purple smoke rising from the plant on Thursday.
Other users seized on the smoke’s religious symbolism, joking that “a new pope has been chosen.”
Prosecutor General Yury Chaika’s son was reported to have won Moscow’s lucrative $500-million waste collection contract in spring 2018.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
