Activists paint Moscow's 'Stalin Tower' with Ukraine colours
Source: UK Guardian
Authorities in the Russian capital have detained four people after climbers scaled to the top of one of the city’s Seven Sisters high-rises to paint it blue and yellow.
Commuters saw a Ukrainian flag flying at the top of the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment building in Moscow, Russia this morning.
Anyone who has visited Moscow will recognise the Seven Sister high-rises commissioned by Joseph Stalin between 1947 and 1953, that jut out across the city’s skyline.
But commuters stuck in rush-hour traffic this morning may have noticed that the one on Kotelnicheskaya Embankment had been given a little bit of a touch-up.
Activists apparently defied both the authorities and any fear of falling 176 metres from the 26-story structure and made it to the top of the tower overnight, painting the star at the top of the building (and hammer and sickle in the centre) in the Ukrainian blue and yellow colours, and attaching a Ukrainian flag for good measure.
Russian officials have reportedly blamed “hooligans” and detained four people found with climbing gear.
Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/20/activists-paint-moscow-stalin-tower-ukraine-colours
It will be interesting to see the background on these 4 'hooligans' if it is released.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Russia has a law specifically targeting "hooliganism" (aka, "offensive public disruption for political purposes"
. The standard sentence for group hooliganism is seven years in prison. It's the same law they used to convict Pussy Riot.
When the Russian officials decided to blame "hooligans", their choice of terms is rarely accidental...or incidental. It's an indicator of how the government plans to treat these protesters.
Really messed up.
The organizers of the show, held Tuesday in Moscow's Gostiny Dvor as part of the "Chapeau 2014" exhibition, said in an introduction to the performance that it was "not at all political." A video of the show went viral, however, and prompted harsh criticism and accusations of propaganda.
The "Children of the World Against War" fashion show featured young girls dressed up in costumes representing various countries, all of them equipped with model handguns. While the young models representing France, Britain, Germany, the U.S. and Italy pointed their guns at the audience to a soundtrack reminiscent of gunshots, the model representing Ukraine pointed her gun at herself as if attempting suicide, the video shows.
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/moscow-children-s-fashion-show-has-ukraine-commit-suicide/505523.html
That does not sound 'political' at all.
"The Russian Embassy in Bulgaria has issued a note demanding that its former Soviet-era ally clean up the monument in Sofia's Lozenets district, identify and punish those responsible, and take "exhaustive measures" to prevent similar attacks in the future, the news agency reported Monday."
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/505354.html
Russia as keeper of the Soviet flame. You know there will be trouble when no crime is too small.
Pylon in Moscow
(Source)
Ukrainian extreme adventurer and risk-taker Grygoriy, who goes under pseudonym Mustang Wanted, is claming that he put the Ukrainian flag on top of a building in Moscow on Aug. 20. He also gave a yellow star on top of the building a coat of blue paint as a finishing touch of Ukrainian colors.
Grygoriy, 26, says it was “a sincere patriotic feeling” that made him do it.
In a statement he put on his Facebook page, Grygoriy, who never shares his last name, says he decided to come clear for the sake of the four Russians who were detained on suspicion of putting up the flag.
“I have to make this confession in attempt to free the innocent citizens of Russia who have all the chances to become victims of Russian justice, widely known for its impartiality,” reads the post on Mustang Wanted page on Facebook.
http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/spider-man-from-kyiv-confesses-putting-up-ukrainian-flag-in-moscow-2-361749.html
He's certainly got the daredevil credentials, of that there's no doubt...
