NO. 31 (1823) САНКТ-ПЕТЕРБУРГ-ТАЙМС WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2014 WWW.SPTIMES.RU ANNA VOLKOVA A festival in Pushkin this past weekend commemorated the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I, when Russia and Germany declared war on each other. Largely ignored by REFLECTION Soviet historians, who placed greater emphasis on the revolution and ensuing civil war, several new exhibitions in St. Petersburg are now focusing on the subject. See story, page 8. ADVERTISING LocalNews www.sptimes.ru | Wednesday, August 6, 2014 ❖ 2 LGBT Activist Detained After Solo Protest By Sergey Chernov THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES and, at times, getting out of control, LGBT rights activist Kirill Kalugin was with the police usually ignoring any detained on Palace Square within sec- misconduct. onds on Aug. 2 after he attempted to Kalugin said that he chose to stage hold a LGBT rights and anti-war one- his protest on that day because he sees man protest timed with the Russian the festivities as the “climax of milita- Airborne Troops Day. rism and chauvinism.” He said it was Kalugin unfolded a rainbow flag with also his reaction to homophobic jokes, an inscription saying “My freedom pro- where LGBT people were mockingly tects yours” and held it for about 10 sec- invited to hold their protests on Air- onds before he was assaulted by an anti- borne Troops Day —the underlying gay protester, who tried to take away his notion being that they would be imme- flag, while at the same time being seized diately be beaten by homophobic air- from the other side by the police, who borne veterans. had apparently been stationed on the “It’s an old joke from the times site to prevent his protest. when LGBT pride events were held in Kalugin’s protest was ‘As long as there stopped by police who remains one group were already on site that is seen as ‘second- only seconds after it rate,’ the rest cannot had begun. call themselves free.’ According to the law, police must Moscow, [Moscow’s anti-gay ex-mayor show identification and give reasons NIKOLAY SHESTAKOV Yury] Luzhkov used to say that he for any arrest. However, according to Kalugin, center, is taken away by police after unfurling a rainbow flag in Palace Square that read ‘My freedom protects yours.’ would only agree if it was held on Aug. onlookers, they took Kalugin into a po- 2,” Kalugin said. lice vehicle and ignored his demands describes himself as a “colonel of the by officers from the counter-extremism neighboring states. The same people, It was the second protest staged by that they show him their identification first moral front,” and his attempts to Center “E” police force while held at who cried ‘Death to gays’ and hailed Kalugin on Airborne Troops Day. The or explain their actions. As the police have a high school teacher fired over the police station. “They tried to have a the laws banning ‘gay propaganda’ and first was held in 2013, when Kalugin remained silent, they also tried to pre- her participation in an LGBT rights conversation with me, but I refused to restricting public assemblies, ended up was beaten by anti-gay attackers vent him from showing his protest flag rally in 2013. talk to them, so they soon left,” he said. shouting ‘Crimea is ours’ and going to dressed as airborne veterans and then to the media present. Kalugin was released three hours “The only thing they did was confiscate Donetsk and Luhansk.” detained by the police. No charges The anti-gay protester who as- later without any charges being the flag.” Airborne Troops Day in St. Peters- were brought against him then as well. saulted Kalugin introduced himself to pressed. Speaking to The St. Peters- Explaining his protest this week, burg is known for the large number of Earlier this week, Kalugin said he onlookers as Timur Isayev from the burg Times this week, he said his de- Kalugin said it was directed against airborne veterans gathering in the city had not yet decided whether he would “Islamic” NGO Deistviye (Action). He tention was illegal because a one-man both the lack of civil freedoms and the center, drinking, swimming in fountains file a complaint against the police. was not detained by the police and in- protest does not require any prior au- growing militarism in Russia during the stead gave a brief interview to the me- thorization by the Russian law. ongoing conflict in Ukraine. dia present on scene, describing St. Pe- “[The police officers] did not intro- “The suppression of any civil free- ALL ABOUT TOWN tersburg as “hell for homosexuals.” duce themselves or present any doms and the growth of imperial chau- Isayev then headed to the police grounds [for the detention]: they took vinism in Russia are interconnected, Wednesday, Aug. 6 enjoying live music, delicious food station where Kalugin was taken and me by the arms and first tried to put me and the issue has one and the same Avrora Theater on Nevsky Pros- and various activities. filed a formal report against him, ac- in a car, but then brought a police van root,” he said. pekt plays host this week to “My cusing him of violating the law prohib- and put me into the back section,” Kal- “As long as there remains at least Planet. Terre des Hommes” Film Sunday, Aug. 10 iting the “promotion of non-traditional ugin said. one group that is seen as ‘second-rate Festival put on by the Russian tele- Celebrate Soviet-era auto racing sexual relations to minors.” Kalugin said the police took his for- people’ in the country, the rest cannot vision channel My Planet. Discover during the Legends of Soviet Mo- At the time of printing, it is un- mal explanation of what happened. call themselves free. Even if they enjoy the hidden wonders of the rich and torsports event this afternoon at the known if any legal action against Kal- “It’s a standard procedure; when they some preferences now, this system can diverse planet we inhabit through a St. Petersburg Autodrome. Watch ugin will follow. detain people for nothing, they must hit them, too, sooner or later. series of films about it. classic cars duel it out on the race- Isayev is notorious for his homopho- create some document,” he said. Ac- “All this has grown so much that it Zenit St. Petersburg plays their track and attendees with similar ve- bic messages on the Internet, where he cording to Kalugin, he was approached has already started spreading into the first competitive home game of the hicles can even take part in one of season at Petrovsky Stadium this the afternoon’s races. evening against AEL Limassol from For something less adrenaline- Cyprus. The game will determine filled but no less exciting, Geek Pic- which team continues in qualifying nic, Russia’s largest science and tech- Zenit Opens Season with Big Win for the UEFA Champions League, nology fair, concludes today on Ye- Europe’s most prestigious club tour- lagin Island. See the latest innova- By Gus Peters minute as Criscito scored again after a round qualifier. Despite dominating nament. tions or try to network for a potential THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES corner kick skipped across the box to the first leg in Cyprus, Zenit found career in the lucrative industry. Zenit St. Petersburg opened their Rus- him, allowing him to head home from themselves on the wrong end of the Thursday, Aug. 7 sian Premier League season with a close range. scoreline thanks to AEL’s Polish striker Leather-jacketed biker gangs take Monday, Aug. 11 comprehensive 4-0 win over newly pro- “I think it was a good match for us,” Lukasz Gikiewicz, whose 64th-minute to the streets today as Harley Days Avid instagrammers and social net- moted Arsenal Tula on Aug. 2. First- Portuguese manager Andre Villas- header earned AEL the win. begins, continuing through Aug. 10. workers are running out of time to half goals from Italian defender Do- Zenit’s chances of advancing to the Celebrating more than 100 years of enjoy the street exhibition “Summer menico Criscito, Venezuelan striker next qualification round of the UEFA motorcycle culture, Ploschad Os- in St. Petersburg” on Malaya Kon- Salomon Rondon and Brazilian for- Champions League were further hin- trovskogo will be the site of the in- nushnaya Ulitsa. Featuring unusual ward Hulk led the way, and Criscito After cruising to an dered when Belgian midfielder Axel ternational festival as it makes it objects decorated with users’ pic- punctuated the win with his second Witsel was sent off only minutes after first appearance in St. Petersburg. tures, the area is a great place to snap goal halfway through the second half. opening day victory, Gikiewicz’s goal, meaning he won’t be a photo or enjoy a lazy summer day. Criscito’s first goal, and Zenit’s first Zenit hopes to win available to play tonight. Friday, Aug. 8 The exhibition closes Aug. 15. goal of the season, came after Tula Villas-Boas admitted that tonight’s Time is running out to see the Lily St. Petersburg’s reputation as a failed to clear a cross, allowing for the and progress in the game was on his mind when he selected exhibition in the city’s Botanical seafaring city is enhanced by the be- onrushing defender to drill the ball low the team that was victorious in Tula but Garden on the Petrograd side. Am- ginning of the Russian Open Sailing into the far corner. Champions League.