May 13, 2019

Activists organized a demonstration on Korabelnaya Embankment in Vladivostok in defense of orcas and beluga whales on 13th of May, in the afternoon. Despite the cold weather, about 20 volunteers came out with posters “Freedom to whales” and “No to „Whale Jail”, and on the ground in front of the submarine they stretched a banner with a 3D drawing of a killer whale, breaking out of the net, which has already become a symbol for freedom of prisoners of “Whale Jail” in the Srednyaya Bay in the south of Primorye. The action attracted the attention of some passersby – they took pictures of the banner, trying to “catch” the 3D effect – and also large group of journalists from local news agencies and TV channels.
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The demonstration in Vladivostok was timed to the scheduled meeting of the working group at the Ministry of Environment scheduled on May 13-15, where they plan to determine the destiny of the prisoners of the “Whale Jail” and approve individual rehabilitation plans and preparation for release. However, activists have doubts about this meeting.
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Activists say that trappers continue to consider whales as their property and do not think it is their duty to release them.
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According to scientists, all animals can be released. There are no health obstacles for release. Preparations for release may take weeks or couple months, which means they all can be released by mid-summer, if the preparation already begins now.