A group of St. Petersburg nudists outraged by a recent ban on baring it all at a beach popular with nudists since the 1960s are now seeking the help of some like-minded folks in Finland, Russian media reported Tuesday.
Local authorities announced in September that they were closing The Dunes, one of Russia's oldest nude beaches, and turning it into a regular beach by the end of May.
Kirill Vasilyev, head of Russia's Free Body Culture Society, has appealed to Finland's ecology minister for help, and his group plans to hold a protest in St. Petersburg that will feature busloads of naked Finns, he told the Russian News Service.
Vasilyev is confident that the collaboration could help his group win back the Leningrad region beach where for over five decades nudists have been basking in the sun without tan lines.
The two countries share the coastline on the Gulf of Finland where the beach is located and collaborate on many nature conservation projects in the area, he said.
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.
Remind me later.
