Protest against new hunting law in Russia

St.Petersburg, Russia, 31.07.2009 - A protest against new law about hunting took place in St.Petersburg. About 20 activists took part in the performance, in which a hunter "kills" the actors with masks of animals. The law about hunting was issued by Russian parlament and signed by president Dmitry MedvedevDmitry Medvedev at July 26, 2009. Russia’s only previous hunting law was signed by Emperor Alexander III in 1892, but repealed in 1917 following the Russian Revolution. Since then, hunting in Russia has been governed by a series of decrees and court orders. The new law includes a lot of clauses alllowing violence in case of hunting, such as use of traps, pneumatic weapons aswell as cold weapons. The law allows the killing of pregnant females, as well as the very young are not capable of independent existence. The law does not prohibit the use of poisons, explosives and other equipment hunting. By law, hunting is permitted, even in specially protected areas - reserves and national parks.