In St. Petersburg was the day of memory of the first mayor Anatoly Sobchak

Of course, with nothing else than an anthem to the great city, this evening could not begin. Concert in memory of Anatoly Sobchak in the Great Hall of the Philharmonic, where he loved to visit. Behind the remote, maestro Vladimir Spivakov, with whom Sobchak had a long friendship. Among the listeners are associates and students. And the president is one of them. “You know, I traveled together with him to the regions of Russia during various election events of a national nature and significance,” the Russian leader said. - It was a very difficult time. Sometimes I thought, "Why are we coming here?" Nothing good can be expected here.” And when we walked in, I thought to myself, "I'm right." Because as soon as he appeared in the hall, the room buzzed, honestly. He came out to applause.” Sobchak was among those who laid the very foundations of modern Russia. One of the authors of the current constitution, a brilliant scientist, the first and only mayor of St. Petersburg. In the perception of the citizens, Anatoly Sobchak remained a man who returned to St. Petersburg not only the name, but also the historical essence. Sobchak had unique leadership qualities – he wanted to listen and wanted to follow him. He is straight, sarcastic, and at the same time a true intellectual. “He taught law not as a system of knowledge, but as a system of human values,” said Vladimir Putin. In 1989, a little-known professor from Leningrad broke into politics. His speeches were followed by the whole country. Many of Sobchak’s speeches are still relevant today. For example, we are talking about the CIS and Ukraine. “The idea of a commonwealth was needed only for one thing: to use it as a respite and to create its own army during that period. We must not allow Ukraine to create an army that, if it creates it, it will use. I don't doubt that for a minute! I have no doubt that tomorrow they will present, and have already presented the rights to nuclear weapons, and I believe that today we are laying a mine not only for our future, but also for the future of all mankind. Here's what Sobchak says about Crimea. Even if we assume such absurdity that Crimea is the territory of Ukraine. Sevastopol has never been the base of the Ukrainian fleet, it has always been the base of the Russian fleet. What has been going on for centuries, in a single day, even if it was decided by representatives of the Communist nomenklatura and the nationalists, cannot change. There is one legally possible option that all founding republics that joined the Union in 1922 after they themselves annulled the 1922 treaty should return to the borders in which they became part of the Union. Vladimir Putin continued to share his memories of Sobchak: "I remember, I was in the office, Bella Alekseevna Kurkova came, puts a piece of granite on his table, says: "Here, the revolution, we in Moscow demolished the monument to Dzerzhinsky." Anatoly Aleksandrovich took this piece, looked at it and said: “The revolution is good, and monuments should not be broken.” He never advocated the destruction of our former common homeland. Never. Many urged him to run for president, but he did not. Back in Leningrad. In August 1991, it was thanks to Sobchak that bloodshed in the city was avoided. And in the most hungry time, when the cards were introduced, in shops - no clothes, no shoes, only green peas and sea cabbage, Sobchak - called Kohl and Mitterrand personally. Following humanitarian aid, he began to attract investments to St. Petersburg, returning the imperial shine to the semi-starved and impoverished city. The construction of the ring road began, a high-speed highway project appeared, the Hermitage again played with the lights. “Mme Chirac came to ask for an exhibition for the Paris City Hall. And first separately, and then in front of me, he said that I could not force or even give advice to the director of the Hermitage, this is their decision. “He told me, ‘Just keep in mind that her husband will definitely be president of France in a few months,’” Hermitage Director Mikhail Piotrovsky said. And soon began a campaign to denigrate Sobchak. In the gubernatorial elections, he was targeted. “Yes, he went through difficult times here,” Putin continued. He suffered both betrayal and slander. But he never said the same thing to anyone, never stoop to it. Always held the height of nobility and dignity. That is how we shall remember him.” Sobchak died exactly a quarter of a century ago, leaving a legacy of human values that he promoted.

🔗 Share

Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn WeChat VK LINE KakaoTalk Reddit Pinterest E-Mail