VORONEZH, January 30 (RIA Novosti) - Russia’s Supreme Court threw out a petition by a group of residents in the Central Russian city of Voronezh to close a military airbase, the city legislature said on Wednesday.
The petition, filed in 2011, urged the Defense Ministry to remove the airbase called Baltimore from the city boundaries.
The residents have held numerous rallies, demonstrations and pickets complaining to the local authorities about the noise created by flying jets, especially at night, as well as the extensive ammunition and fuel storage facilities that pose a serious threat to the residents.
In October, the Voronezh Region Court rejected the claim, leading an citizens action group to go to the Supreme Court.
In December, Air Force commander Viktor Bondarev pledged the use of the airbase would be limited and not more than 40 modern, low-noise warplanes would be deployed there.
The base was established in the 1930s and can accommodate up to 200 military aircraft.
