Authorities of Maikop cancel New Year mass celebrations

The members of the antiterrorist commission of Adygea have stated that the republic's capital will see no organized mass festivities on the New Year night. Residents of the city reacted differently to the decision.

As noted by Sergey Stelmakh, acting head of the administration, the maintaining of public order on the New Year night in Maikop will be strengthened.

"The Maikop administration is preparing a diversified holiday program for city residents and guests; however, all the events will be held in the daytime, without any organized night festivities," said Rosa Tseeva, Head of the Maikop City Culture Department.

According to her story, the mission of the city authorities is "to make the joy of the New Year seeing in not to be marred by accidents, which are most likely to occur at night and in crowded places."

The administration's idea was supported by local interior bodies and "Gospozhnadzor" (Fire Prevention Service) of Adygea.

According to Tatiana Ochkasova, Fire Inspector of Adygea, over the past five years the New Year holidays in the republic saw 94 fires, in which 12 persons, including two children, were lost, and six others were injured." The main reason of most of the fires was in careless handling of fireworks.

"Maikop is a quiet and peaceful city, not like Vladikavkaz or Grozny, where they are shooting and blasting in the streets," said Ilya Tsukatov, 19, a resident of Maikop. "But for young people it's too quiet and calm. Evening mass events are rarity here. Why not to spend the New Year night with songs and dances?"

"Young people go away from here; there's no work; and, moreover, youth activities are held more and more rarely. All hide in their houses; soon we'll forget how to talk with each other," said Asya Valova, 33, a resident of Maikop.

"If an event is of mass type, the organizer shall take care about its safety and watch this point as a priority," said Sergey Kletsovskiy, a lawyer of the local MIA.

"It's OK that there will be no night festivities; we'll sleep peacefully, when there are no firecrackers and fireworks behind the window; you don't fear about your house; after all, a cracker may get on the roof," said Valentina Khlopovchuk, a pensioner.

"The New Year is a family holiday; it should be celebrated at home, within the family, not in a fight in the central square of Maikop, or in a drunken stupor in the streets of the city," said Fyodor Slivka, 29, a resident of Maikop. "I support the ban on nightly festivities."