French
hotel chain, Accor, has found themselves at the centre of the latest
demolition scandal to divide Muscovites. On 24th and 25th July,
bulldozers destroyed an the Alexeev Mansion, an early 19th century
classical ensemble on Bakhrushina Street in south Moscow, near the
Tretyakov Gallery. Part of the complex is within a conservation zone.
Tens of protestors formed a ring around the building, but workmen
broke through and completed the demolition.
Samara: Endangered City on the Volga a new report from MAPS and SAVE Europe’s Heritage was launched in Samara on 11thDecember 2009.
The press conference was chaired by the editors of the report Vitaly Stadnikov, Andrei Gozak and Clementine Cecil, and by contributor Natalia Dushkina. It was attended by over 200 people, including two deputy mayors and the deputy minister of culture for the region.