Support The Moscow Times!

Local Authorities Defend Penis-Shaped Ice Rink in Siberia

Slava Stepanov / Facebook

Local authorities in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk have defended their opening of a new ice rink in the city against criticism that says the structure looks like a penis. 

Officials opened the ice rink last Friday in front of Novosibirsk’s opera and ballet theater in time for the holiday season. Social media users immediately compared aerial drone photographs of the ice rink — which is topped by a Christmas tree — with a penis.

Locals said the ice rink was a “message from the government to its people.”

Novosibirsk’s vice-mayor Anna Tereshkova brushed off the criticism in a Facebook post Sunday.

“Real art should be arousing,” she wrote, adding that the ice rink would not be dismantled despite the backlash.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

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 you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more