Silent Teatralna Square. Organizers of events: “They kill the desire to do something for the city” (comments)

As we already reported, the city hall banned concerts in the center of Uzhgorod. The Executive Committee decided: no more noise on Teatralna Square, the traditional venue of all city holidays.

The draft desicion discussed at the executive committee proposed to restrict public events on the square, which is the center of the city pedestrian area, and on the adjacent streets – Korzo and Voloshin. The reason is residents’ complaints about the noise. However, they decided to compromise: banned only discos and galas, but retained the requirement on restriction of the noise level. So, celebrations on Teatralna square technically are allowed, but only those that are "quiet enough." The organizers of the celebrations in Uzhgorod are unhappy and stress that it kills the desire to do something for the city…

Uzhgorod Mayor Victor Pogorelov during the meeting of the Executive Committee reported that 80 people had complained to him about the noise.          

Serhiy Denysenko, the Head of the Transcarpathian KVN league, the organizer of the Bride Parade, parade of Mykolaychiks and other events, said: "I think that everyone, including the Mayor, understand: Teatralna Square is the only square in the city, which is suitable for public events: discos, concerts , entertainment. There is a ready-made stage there, a very good one at that, with the emblem of the city, which does not need decorations. There is a switchboard, which can be used to connect sound equipment, that they now banned… The square is flat: there is no flower beds, steps like on the square at the theater or on Poshtova Square. But the stage is most important. I have experience organizing events that do not have a big budget, and stage rental costs a lot of money. As for the legality of this decision, I just do not want to argue. If the municipality does not want public events, why anyone else should?..  Personally, I am very negative about the decision and it kills my desire to do something for the city."

Victoria Ryzhova, co-organizer of the Real Day of the City, said: "Unfortunately, the time has come when no one is surprised about such illogical and ill-considered decisions of the city authorities. Banning public events on a perfectly suitable for this Teatralna square is very much like the current city government.   Some believe it could be a revenge to citizens, who arranged the Real Day of the City on October 6, but I do not believe that municipal officials could be so shortsighted and instead of supporting good initiatives, discourage the activists killing the desire to do anything in the future. I hope this decision will not take root and Teatralna Square will remain accessible to all and available for holding celebrations for Uzhgorod residents."

Rumours have it that such a decision may be an attempt of the authorities to take all public events under their control, because now holding a concert on Uzhgorod residents’ favorite square requires special order.