MOSCOW, September 3 - RAPSI. Two groups of Moscow activists have gone to court to invalidate recent amendments to city laws that permit the construction of schools and daycare centers in green areas, plaintiffs told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com) on Monday.

"We seek to quash Law No. 12 passed by the City Hall on April 11, which amends the City Development Code," the applicants said. "The changes allow for building schools and daycare centers in landscaped areas (where formerly any construction was prohibited) and terminate the specially protected natural area status for territories occupied by parking lots, and to do so without providing environmental appraisal and compensation."

They added that the amendments contradict federal environmental protection law and the Land Code.

The Moscow City Court will hold its first hearing of the issue on September 5.