SPLASHDOWN Down a Ramp in a Variety of Costumes to Launch Themselves Off a Jump Before Inevitably Landing in a Pool Filled with Freezing Water
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NO. 14 (1806) САНКТ-ПЕТЕРБУРГ-ТАЙМС WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2014 WWW.SPTIMES.RU DMITRY LOVETSKY / AP LOVETSKY DMITRY A competitor participates in the Red Bull Jump and Freeze event at the Igora ski resort, 100 kilometers northwest of St. Petersburg, on Apr. 12. Entrants sped SPLASHDOWN down a ramp in a variety of costumes to launch themselves off a jump before inevitably landing in a pool filled with freezing water. ADVERTISING RUSSIAN St. Petersburg – ROYAL Stroganov Yard KITCHEN Beautifully restored rooms, secret 17 Nevsky Prospeсt rooms of A.S. Stroganoff and, of (in the yard of Stroganov Palace) TOUR course, restored wine cellars, which +7 (812) 571-24-09 OF THE houses the most luxurious wine col- www.russianampir.ru PALACE lection of the XXI century. LocalNews www.sptimes.ru | Wednesday, April 16, 2014 ❖ 2 Opposition Prepares for May Day Celebrations By Sergey Chernov Petersburg would unite as a “single, THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES democratic, anti-militarist, anti-impe- As local democrats argued over their rial” group on May 1. slogans ahead of the upcoming May Andrei Pivovarov, a co-chairman of Day march, anti-war protests contin- the local branch of the Republican ued on Sunday with an unauthorized Party of Russia-People’s Freedom gathering near Kazan Cathedral and a Party, also known as RPR-Parnas, said series of one-man protests on Nevsky that the differences were caused not by Prospect, St. Petersburg’s main street. the anti-war stance but the long-stand- About 200 people gathered at Ka- ing differences between Democratic zan Cathedral on Sunday to protest St. Petersburg and several other demo- against censorship, the shuttering of cratic and liberal organizations. independent media outlets and anti- “So far the negotiations are open, Ukrainian propaganda by state-con- but in reality it’s unlikely we’ll come to trolled media. Originally, a March of an agreement,” Pivovarov said on Apr. Truth was due to be held on that day 14. but City Hall refused to authorize the “It was probably not noticed by rally and suggested that it be moved to anyone else, but there was a huge con- the remote Polyustrovsky Park in the flict last year which resulted in Demo- north of the city. cratic St. Petersburg expelling me from “They always find some reasons to the organizational committee and deny the rallies, I didn’t even look into moving our Freedom for [opposition the details,” organizer Natalya Tsym- leader] Alexei Navalny banner to third balova, one of the leaders of the Dem- place in the march lineup. When peo- ocratic St. Petersburg coalition, told ple want to downplay Navalny, accus- The St. Petersburg Times on Monday. ing him of nationalism and personal “They cite repair work or other ambitions, something is wrong,” he events [taking place at the same place said. at the same time]; it’s a game we know “There are a number of different all too well. Instead, they offered Poly- organization committees [for the May ushrovsky Park, which doesn’t suit us 1, 2014 march]. We have a strong de- at all because it’s far from the center, sire to agree with them, but it’s likely from the metro and far from other peo- that we’ll fail,” said Pivovarov. ple. We didn’t even consider it because / SPT CHERNOV SERGEY He also added that anti-war and to agree to such an option means not to A lone protester standing near the corner of Dumskaya Ulitsa and Nevsky Prospekt. anti-censorship slogans would be used respect oneself.” by their group too, but that the main The rally was due to be held on the with Ukraine,” Tsymbalova said. one-man protests a month ago, we “We believe that Ukraine is the theme would be the municipal elec- same date as the March of Truth in “The wave of propaganda that we faced huge amounts of hostility. I was most important, the most painful and tions due to take place on Sept. 14. The Moscow but authorities there refused see now was also connected to Ukraine in shock. During one protest, I was ap- the most sensitive subject, and will not elections will be held in 106 of St. Pe- to authorize the event as a march, per- and we should speak out about it, even proached by about 20 people who be resolved before May 1.” tersburg’s 111 municipal districts. mitting only a stationary rally instead. if it might prove unpopular. We have called me names. To my pleasant sur- However, the alleged unpopularity According to Pivovarov, the other Several thousand people were reported no fear of unpopular subjects. It’s more prise, there was nothing like this [on of anti-war sentiments may split local group include the RPR-Parnas, Civil to have attended the rally in Moscow. important to us than gaining electoral Sunday]. A couple of people did come democrats ahead of the May Day Platform, Navalny’s Progress Party, the At the rally in St. Petersburg, some advantages.” up to me and ask, ‘How much are you march, Tsymbalova said. December 5 Party and the Vesna people held placards reading “Hands Several young men who tried to being paid?’ but it was no more than in She said some organizations are re- (Spring) youth movement, which ear- off of independent media,” “Truth. provoke the protesters by speaking in a usual in such situations. Either, the luctant to support anti-war slogans that lier formed a coalition for the elec- Nothing but the truth.” and “Don’t for- support by Russian President Vladimir propaganda has become less intense or Democratic St. Petersburg plans to use tions. get to switch off the television,” but Putin and against Ukraine were seen at people are getting used to it and react- at the demonstration and are likely to “The presentation of this municipal many made direct reference to the rally, but no clashes were reported. ing less emotionally.” form a splinter group. “For some rea- bloc will be our main message [at the Ukraine. The police did not make any arrests, A larger anti-war protest is ex- son, this group has been reluctant to May Day march],” Pivovarov said. “Putin’s media, stop lying about although some protesters received pected to be held on May 1, at what make statements about Ukraine “Maybe the timing is a bit off, but Ukraine,” read a placard signed Dem- warnings and some had their names Tsymbalova sees as the year’s main po- lately,” Tsymbalova said, adding that it’s the only chance we have to march ocratic St. Petersburg and held by co- and passport details taken down by of- litical manifestation. Traditionally, there has been no news from the Anti- along Nevsky Prospekt and it’s impor- alition activist Vsevolod Nelayev. ficers. groups of every political stripe — from War Committee since it was formed on tant for us to say that we not only hold “Down with the power of the KGB. “According to the polls, most Rus- the pro-Kremlin United Russia party Mar. 2. “I suppose that they have de- rallies but are involved in local politics Enough lying. Hands off of Ukraine,” sians support the annexation of Crimea to the opposition factions — march cided not to push the issue.” as well. We have about 500 candidates read another. and believe the propaganda broadcast down Nevsky Prospekt as part of the In a statement released on Apr. 7, so far but we need to have about twice “The last wave of clampdowns on on state television. To go against the official Holiday of Spring and Labor in Democratic St Petersburg urged all the as many. It’s important for us that the freedom of speech and attacks against trend is to lose points [in the eyes of the Russia. democratic organizations in the city people who go to the rallies will come independent media, such as those electorate],” Tsymbalova said. “We hope our march will be autho- and their supporters to cooperate in out to vote and, most importantly, gain against the Grani.ru website and Do- “This time, however, we felt less ag- rized, but of course there’s a risk that it preparing for the march and expressed positions of power.” zhd television, was definitely connected gression than before. When we held may be banned as well,” she said. hopes that all of the democrats of St. ALL ABOUT TOWN Historic Substation Rescued Wednesday, Apr. 16 Friday, Apr. 18 Botanical Garden. Starting Apr. By Irina Titova incurred regarding the project. Since Learn more about AmCham’s Teachers and students alike 17, budding botanists will marvel THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES the beginning of 2013, the company efforts during the Joint Manufac- shouldn’t miss the opportunity to at the variety and beauty of the St. Petersburg’s Cultural Heritage says that it has invested more than turing, and Investment and Legal establish lasting contacts with Rus- desert’s most iconic plant. Preservation Committee has recom- 400 million rubles ($11.1 million) in Committees Meeting today at 9 sian and foreign institutions during Monday, Apr. 21 mended that the city’s Committee of reconfiguring the electrical systems in a.m. Check their website for more the 21st Education and Career Fair Improve your grasp of Neruda, State Control, Use and the Preserva- the building. information about the event. at LenExpo, beginning today and Bolano and Marquez at TrueDA’s tion of Monuments, or KGIOP, add Expert assessment recommending Today marks the beginning of finishing tomorrow. Learn more Beginners Spanish Lesson this tracking substation No.11, known as that the building housing the substa- IPhEB and CPhI Russia 2014, an about education in Russia and con- evening at their location on the the “siege substation,” to the list of tion be added to the list of regional international forum for the phar- nect with your fellow scholars.