ST. PETERSBURG — Billionaire tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov has offered to become a patron of the legendary Aurora cruiser if it is handed over to the St. Petersburg government.
The Aurora is currently part of the Russian Navy, but it may soon be turned into a branch of the Russian Naval Museum.
Intriguingly, debate about the future of the Aurora was prompted by Prokhorov, who is president of Onexim Group, one of Russia’s largest private investment funds, having rented the ship — an icon of the 1917 Revolution — for the birthday party of Russky Pioner magazine, which he owns, during the St. Petersburg Economic Forum in June.
A video of the birthday celebrations that was posted on the magazine’s web site received widespread circulation on the Internet and was widely criticized.
Prokhorov is now offering to come to the rescue of the troubled ship.
In an open letter to Matviyenko and the Russian Navy authorities, the magnate expressed his concern at the possibility that the heroic vessel could be turned into an entertainment venue.
“A fierce discussion has been unfolding in the media recently concerning the possible decommissioning of the Aurora from the navy and the handing over of the vessel to the St. Petersburg government,” Prokhorov said in the letter, which was published on Russky Pioner’s web site.
“I see it as a potentially dangerous situation, as the Aurora cruiser, which has already become a popular venue for various festivities and a location for film and music video shoots, could be fully transformed and degenerate into an entertainment venue. This scenario should be avoided, as it would harm the feelings of Russian patriots, veterans and the residents of St. Petersburg.”
If the naval authorities decide to decommission the vessel, Prokhorov said his charitable foundation would provide the funding to carry out the transfer of the cruiser to the city authorities.