"It feels like Miller is completely unmanageable." St. Petersburg preservationists are once again demanding an end to the construction of Gazprom's towers on Okhtinsky Cape.
Residents of St. Petersburg are demanding that the construction of a public and business center be stopped Okhtinsky Cape and two new skyscrapers slated to appear near the Gulf of Finland. Both are being built by Gazprom.
In 2010, activists managed to prevent the construction of a “tower” on the Okhtinsky Cape, an archaeologically valuable site in the depths of which the remains of a Swedish fortresses of Landskrona and Nyenskans (17th century) and several other ancient settlements. Gazprom built its facility elsewhere, but last year began construction on the "Crystal Ship" cape—a community and business center. Community activists nicknamed it the "Crystal Coffin" and protested.
At the latest press conference, heritage activists, scientists, and archaeologists shared their opinions on the new construction.
“My colleagues and I have no doubt that this glass ‘shell’ being built on Okhtinsky Cape is an insult to the city center.”
said Chairman of the Board of the St. Petersburg Union of Scientists Andrey Timkovsky.
“It feels like there’s no way to control Miller [Gazprom Chairman of the Management Board and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors Alexey Miller] at all,”
— the secretary of the St. Petersburg Human Rights Council was indignant Natalia Evdokimova.
Heritage activists explained that the cape had previously been defended by a concerted effort from the entire community, a true public protest. Now, any rallies or marches are prohibited due to COVID-19 restrictions. The activists have once again written a petition to Putin, asking him to protect Okhtinsky Cape from any construction.
The history of Okhtinsky Cape and the struggle for it can be read in the text "NotMoscow".
Photos: press conference (Daria Dmitrieva), excavations (from open sources), the future "Crystal Ship" (from a Gazprom presentation)