The Vyborg authorities have cancelled the “Neva battle” due to insufficient patriotism
One of the biggest reconstruction festivals in Russia, “The Knights’ Castle” has been put in jeopardy. The Vyborg authorities have refused to agree to the event, calling it unpatriotic. Civil servants are cross about the participation of a group called the “Teutonic Knights” in the historical reconstruction. In 2013, the twelfth Knights’ Castle festival was planned for the 26th to the 28th of June to remember the battle on the Neva in 1240, in which the prince of Novgorod, Alexander Yaroslavich, beat the Swedish troops under the command of Jarl Birger.
But now, let’s examine the way the head of Vyborg, Aleksey Turkin, defends his position: “The Teutonic Knights were historically a hostile group towards Russia, against whom Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky fought heroically.”
In the 13th century, the Teutonic Knights were allied with Sweden, but why inviting the “Teutons” to take part in the festival is unclear, because if we follow the civil servants’ logic, the Swedes were enemies too, and how you can have a battle reconstruction without an enemy is unclear.
When the press received information about the ban, the Leningrad Oblast’s Vyborg regional administration got involved. It would appear that the ban on holding the festival does not fall under the jurisdiction of the city authorities, Rosbalt reports from the regional administration. The festival was in the region’s annual activity plan last year, which means that prior permission had been obtained.
In the end, the Vyborg regional administration recommended the town authorities agree to holding the festival, as long as the organisers keep to all legal standards imposed by the relevant authorities, and guarantee the safety of spectators during the event. What the Vyborg authorities do now is anyone’s guess.
Comments from Ridus.ru:
Feldwebel:
Insanity is increasing … now, it’s the turn of the poor re-enactors to displease our [civil servant] idiots!
Ksander:
The Botox Bogeyman has scared everyone
glamurchik:
No matryoshki, koshniki, rounders, and balalaikas [Note: traditional Russian things]? Ban it!!!
Nera:
These idiots will be beaten.
Strelok:
Instead of the “Battle of the Neva”, it’s time to organise a “Battle of Idiots”!!!
yarilo:
The red shield in the background makes me happy :-)
Михаил Фельдман:
It’s really interesting to see what the Vyborg authorities do now. If they ban it without having the right to do so, then we’re talking about a classic medieval system of government, like the feudal system. Its main principal is “My vassal’s vassal is not my vassal”. Princes had specific responsibilities – to support their seniors and share with them the spoils from the serfs. In accordince with these rules, you could run your own fiefdom how you wanted, banning of allowing, punishing or pardoning. It looks like the authorities themselves are getting involved in the reconstruction.
vlandin:
Stupid and ridiculous. Arrogant and mocking. They’ve been caught stealing so now they’re dancing on the bodies of the fallen. Adults have become children.
Kosstix:
Let’s start with the fact that the head of Vyborg, Aleksey Turkin, does not know history well at all: the “Teutonic Knights” have never been a significant “enemy of Russia” and they specialised in bringing Christianity to the tribes that inhabited the present-day Baltic forcibily. As for the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky, there was nothing particularly sacred about him. These chinushi have proved themselves to be absolute idiots. So really: make fools pray to God, they’ll start thinking about suicide.
coyoteOdin:
Once again, I am convinced that “patriotism” has a negative effect on the interaural nerve centre
DIK:
Milonov still hasn’t made his presence felt yet? Strange …