Commissioner for human rights Ella Pamfilova sent a letter to Vladimir Putin with a request to stop one of the projects of the company UMMC. We are talking about the infamous project for the extraction of Nickel in Novokhopersk town district of Voronezh region, which caused strong resistance of the local population in 2013. In his letter Pamfilova asked the government to stop the creation in the Voronezh region enterprises for extraction of Nickel, as its job will cause serious damage to the local environment and destroy the soil that should be used for selhoznaznacheniya.

According to "Izvestia", the letter Panfilova signed Wzampredsedatelya Minister Alexander Khloponin went to the ministries concerned, with the requirement to answer to the President.

"Ural mining metallurgical company" belonging to a famous Russian billionaire Iskander Makhmudov (occupies 29-e a place in the Russian Forbes list, worth an estimated $3.5 billion). In 2011, she stated about the readiness to start the development of large Nickel deposits in Novokhopersk town area. This caused resentment of local residents, since the Nickel mine threatens to withdraw from agricultural use, thousands of hectares of chernozems. In the Voronezh region began mass protests. The protesters, headed the local Cossack community, even entered into open confrontation with the staff UMHC. They came to blows. On location for camping. Now in prison are two activists of the protest movement. Staff UMHC said that activists of wymogi money from them for the suspension of protests. As it turned out, the negotiations were supervised by police officers. In the movement "In defense of Khoper" claim that they regularly provoke bribery law enforcers and representatives UMGK.

Against this background, a four-year confrontation, the statement of the Ministry of agriculture of Russia looks very positive.

"The Ministry of agriculture of Russia has consistently advocated a position on the need for preservation in agricultural production of agricultural lands and
other particularly valuable agricultural land, without alteration of permitted use of land plots within such lands. Soils in the Voronezh region most favorable for agricultural production. Given that the Voronezh region is one of the leading regions in agricultural production, land in Novokhopersk town area should be retained in the structure of agricultural land. The corresponding position sent to Ministry of Russia, — has informed "news" in a press-service of the Ministry of agriculture.