German Ads Banned in St. Petersburg Over War Anniversary – Reports

[dipsydoodle]

Authorities in St. Petersburg have reportedly ordered the removal of hoardings advertising German brands in an apparent attempt to placate possible anger among residents ahead of anniversary celebrations to mark the end of the siege of the city during World War II.

Memories of the grueling 872-day encirclement of the city by Nazi forces during the war remain vivid among survivors and the city’s heroic stand is an object of burning pride for its people.

NTV-Petersburg television reported Thursday that the order to remove ads for German companies from the city’s main streets and areas near cemeteries was issued by City Hall with the aim of “avoiding the outbreak of social conflict.”

City Hall denied issuing any such order and described the move as a provocation, the report said.

NTV said advertising agencies were told to replace German signs over the second half of January with posters marking the 70th anniversary of the complete lifting of the Siege of Leningrad – as St. Petersburg was then known – at their own cost.

http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140117/186623792/German-Ads-Banned-in-St-Petersburg-Over-War-Anniversary--Reports.html

[MicaelS]

1. "removal of hoardings"?????

What is that supposed to mean? Must be a translation glitch.

[LuvNewcastle]

2. I'm trying to figure out what they meant by that, but I'm having a hard time.

Do they mean that these commercials come in groups or sections of ads and they're taking out whole pieces at once instead of removing individual ads? That's the only sense I can make of it.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Nope - not a a translation glitch.

Hoardings are adverts on boards regardless of size - maybe just a European expression as here in the UK for example.

[MicaelS]

4. Thanks! Googled it and found out ...

It is what we in the US call a billboard. Which is a large sign used for advertising especially at the side of a street, road or highway.

[dipsydoodle]

5. Yes I'd meant to mention billboards as your equivalent.

Thanks.

[adavid]

6. PC gone too far..

"Oh yes, we must take down that advertisement for German chocolate and coo-coo clocks".