Russia's Public Chamber will hold a hearing on the construction of a controversial highway through a forest outside Moscow on September 16, a source in the chamber said on Monday.
The chamber, which was set up to provide oversight of new legislation, has a consultative role only.
President Dmitry Medvedev ordered the suspension of plans to construct a toll highway between Moscow and St. Petersburg through the centuries-old Khimki forest north of the capital on August 26, before further public and expert consultation.
He said the decision was made after appeals from environmentalists, opposition groups, groups of experts and the governing United Russia party.
"Demands for more analysis" of the project have also been made by Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, who said he had been opposed to the construction all along. Environmentalists and their new ally Luzhkov are proposing alternative routes for the highway to bypass the forest.
There has been outrage at the highway construction plan from local residents and environmental groups. Campaigners protecting the Khimki forest have been the subject of several raids by police and attack by unknown assailants. RIA Novosti
