Support The Moscow Times!

Gorky Park to Host Flashmob in Support of Crimea

Gorky Park has agreed to host a flash mob on Saturday "in support of the Crimea and Sevastopol," where Russian-speaking residents have rallied for secession from Ukraine to Russia.

While the political nature and apparent government approval of the gathering seem to contradict the spirit of a flash mob, organizers have otherwise taken the term quite literally: In an announcement posted on the VKontakte social network, they asked participants to bring flashlights.

The event, titled the "Light of Unity," will begin on the Krymsky Most — or Crimea Bridge — with participants shining their flashlights, photo cameras, or any other sources of electrical light onto the waters of the Moscow River below, the VKontakte announcement said.

Participants then plan to march toward Gorky Park, which has agreed to host up to 1,000 “flash-mobbers” between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m, the park said on its website.

Fireworks and any sources of open flame will be prohibited, the organizers said, adding that "violators will be [thrown into] the river."

It was announced later Friday that a rally in support of the Crimea's Russian population would also be held in the park Saturday afternoon, from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. Up to 2000 people will be permitted to attend the event, the park website said.

The Crimea, which has a large Russian-speaking population, was part of Russia before Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev handed it over to the then-Soviet republic of Ukraine in 1954.

Many Russians still bemoan the loss of their favorite Black Sea resort, supporting demonstrators in the Crimea who have rallied this week for secession to Russia after pro-European protesters overthrew Ukraine's Moscow-backed government in Kiev.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more