Sochi residents criticize three-day celebration of City Day

The three-day-long celebration of City Day organized by the Sochi Administration on November 21-23 was criticized by Sochi residents questioned by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This year, the celebrations to mark the City Day began in the Archangel Michael Church. On November 21, Isidore, Metropolitan of Yekaterinodar and Kuban, came to worship and said that he was "pleased to know that Sochi celebrates its City Day on Michael's Day (Michaelmas)."

On November 22, a march of Cossack troops was held along Kurortny Avenue. On the same day, near the Winter Theatre a huge Russian flag was deployed, which was ordered in Moscow especially for the event.

The Sochi residents, interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, did not understand why the City Day was celebrated in November.

"Usually, city days are marked on the city foundation day. Anyway, this is probably the case in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and other Russian cities, which have history. Sochi also has its own interesting history and dates, but why November? I think that the organizers of the festival should have been told about these dates beforehand… Otherwise, such holidays that have no grounds look dead," said Vitaly Davydov, a worker of a private enterprise.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.