Residents of Russian city want crisis solutions not new town name

16:45 | 21/ 02/ 2009



KRASNODAR, February 21 (RIA Novosti) - Around 200 people protested in Krasnodar on Saturday against a proposal to change the city's name to the pre-Soviet Yekaterinodar, saying the authorities should focus on anti-crisis measures.

The idea of reverting to the tsarist-era name has been around since the 1990s, and has support from the local authorities and Cossacks, but many residents are used to the current name and oppose the initiative.

Protesters carried placards "They change the name of Krasnodar and you will have to pay," "A new name will not solve old social problems" and "Yekaterinodar is our past - Krasnodar is our future."

"We don't think it is necessary to change the name of the city. The main tasks for the authorities must be strengthening law and order, overcoming the effects of the economic crisis, improving the well-being of people at all levels of society, building new housing, kindergartens and schools, and repairing roads," said Alexei Todorenko, the leader of the civic group For Krasnodar.

Police said 85 officers were deployed to maintain order during the rally, and the event passed off peacefully.