Thursday, Mar 28 2024
All Cities
Choose Your City
'Russian efficiency regarding train arrival and departure times is astonishing.'
0

Locals say Vladimir Putin 'cleaned the air' in Kransnoyarsk on his visit to the city

By 0 and 0 and 0
01 March 2017

0

President Putin to chair a session on preparations for the 2019 Winter Universiade to be held in Krasnoyarsk. Picture: Kremlin

Krasnoyarsk has the reputation of a polluted city with fumes from local enterprises clinging to the valley of the Yenisei River. This is known locally as Black Sky Mode, because the smog blots out the sun.

Yet today residents reported a marked improvement, coinciding with a visit by President Putin to chair a session on preparations for the 2019 Winter Universiade to be held in that city.

The reason? Social media observers are in no doubt. 

They believe local officials demanded that enterprises cut emissions in the recent days so that the president would not experience any pollution during his stay. 

Putin arrived


Selfie with Putin

Krasnoyarsk governor Vladimir Toilokonsky greets Vladimir Putin in the morning in Krasnoyarsk. Vladimir Putin poses with sportswoman Elena Radionova. Pictures: NGS24, Elena Radionova

But bloggers warn that residents will suffer once Putin returns to Moscow. Viks7228 commented: 'It is clear that a telegram was sent and for two weeks all enterprises were advised to decrease emissions to zero. So the sky became clear. And after he leaves they will immediately raise [emissions] 300%. And the black sky will be back again.'

Viktoria wrote: 'It's a kind of magic! This means they can push Thermal power station and KRAZ (Krasnoyarsk aluminium plant), but obviously one hand washes the other and when the president leaves our city we will have 'Black Sky Mode' again.'

She suspected regional governor Viktor Tolokonsky for behind behind the alleged move. Vladimir Smirnov observed: 'Look the pollution has stopped, so the sky is clean.' 

Black Sky


Clear Sky

'The air became clear in Krasnoyarsk, and thanks to Putin for this.' Pictures: NGS24

The governor has indicated that weak wind is the cause of pollution. He has previously said: 'The wind will blow and all will be normal'. 

Later, in July 2016, his wife Natalia wrote in her Instagram 'When the thoughts in your head are clean, polluted air is not dangerous. I can teach you as a doctor.'

Ahead of the Putin visit, local media NGS24 wrote on Vkontakte social media: 'The air became clear in Krasnoyarsk, and thanks to Putin for this.' The wind 'follows the word of our governor - and blows.'

Black Sky


Black Sky


Black Sky


Black Sky


Black Sky


Black Sky

Krasnoyarsk has the reputation of a polluted city with fumes from local enterprises clinging to the valley of the Yenisei River. Pictures: TVK6, tk-ck.ru, NGS24, Alexey Gudkin, Inna Maklakova

Startling pictures show conditions in Krasnoyarsk during Black Sky Mode, with locals claiming conditions are dangerous for the health of residents, especially children.

However, comparative reports do not provide evidence that the city is by any means the most polluted.

Putin arrived in Krasnoyarsk from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan,final stopover on a Central Asian tour, in which the president also visited Almaty in Kazakhstan and  Dushanbe in Tajikistan. 

The trip was timed to mark the 25th anniversary of Russia's diplomatic relations with ex-Soviet states Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Putin used his visit to Krasnoyarsk to deny allegations of a state-sponsored sports doping programme in Russia. The claims were made by a World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) commission, and used by Western countries to attack Moscow. 

'I want to emphasize once again - we have always said this - there has never been, there is no, and I hope there never will be a state support system for doping in Russia,' Putin said. 'On the contrary, there will only be a fight against doping.'

Putin is closely involved in planning for the Winter Universiade 2019 in Russia's Krasnoyarsk.

Comments (2)

I agree with Benedikt that the equipment and capability to protect the air quality is in place. Please enforce protection of the air quality for the people of Krasnoyarsk. We are struggling to protect the air quality in the US as well. It would be so helpful for all of us if we could tell people that Russia is protecting Russian air quality and that Russian air is cleaner than US air.
Pamela Tetarenko, League City, USA
05/03/2017 00:14
0
0
and therefore did the population have 2 weeks day off? one can have zero pollution only if/when these factories that pollute are not working. but if they were working, after all they had to showVV how good they were, than for sure something is wrong with management and the owners. filters are there, so are scrubbers? but they are expensive so they keep them off to save money`? SibTime journalists, what about some investigate journalism and find out about it? not just blab anything, something, so the pages are full. get out and DO something!
Benedikt MORAK, Moscow
01/03/2017 21:30
3
0
1

Add your comment

We welcome a healthy debate, but do not accept offensive or abusive comments. Please also read 'Siberian Times' Privacy Policy

Name

Town/Country

Add your comments

The views expressed in the comments above are those of our readers. 'Siberian Times' reserves the right to pre-moderate some comments.

Control code*

Type the code

* obligatory


News

Business

The Bank of Russia official exchange rates of foreign currencies
EUR99.71USD92.26GBP116.52Other...