Arshak Makichyan (born ) is a climate and
anti-war
An anti-war movement (also ''antiwar'') is a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. The term anti-war can also refer to pa ...
activist based in Russia, originally from Armenia.
Until he was arrested in December 2019 he staged a solo
school strike for the climate every Friday in
Pushkin Square,
Moscow,
for more than 40 weeks.
In Russia, individual protests are lawful but anything larger requires police permission.
Makichyan has applied to hold a bigger demonstration unsuccessfully more than 10 times.
He has inspired others across Russia to take part in school strike for the climate, including other single person pickets in Moscow.
In December 2019 he was jailed for six days, hours after returning from Madrid, Spain, where he spoke at the
2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference
The 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP25, was the 25th United Nations Climate Change conference. It was held in Madrid, Spain, from 2 to 13 December 2019 under the presidency of the Chilean government. The conferenc ...
(COP 25).
After Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine he expanded his protests, writing "I'm against the war" on dozens of his climate stickers, since he wasn't able to find a shop that would print the word "war."
Makichyan was a social media manager, until his job "ceased to exist" after the Russian invasion of Ukraine led to websites being blocked in Russia.
After having to leave the country, he was put on trial while in exile in Germany, losing his Russian citizenship as a result. The Court accuses him of providing false information about himself when applying for his Russian citizenship in 2004, despite being just 10 years old at the time.
He studied violin at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory.
See also
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Greta Thunberg
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Individual and political action on climate change
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List of school climate strikes
The list of school climate strikes lists student strike, school student strikes associated with the school strike for climate movement. The strikes began on 20 August 2018, when Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg went on strike daily for several w ...
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Fridays For Future
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2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. An ...
References
External links
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"Arshak Makichyan: The lone picketer"– interview with Makichyan at UNESCO
{{DEFAULTSORT:Makichyan, Arshak
Climate activists
21st-century Russian people
21st-century Armenian people
Place of birth missing (living people)
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
Russian people of Armenian descent
1990s births
Stateless people