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The Siberian Times

Presidential visit leaves some people out in the cold

By The Siberian Times reporter
08 February 2018

Vladimir Putin is on a visit to Siberia, but locals question why he is ‘hidden from view’.

Putin came to Krasnoyarsk to check the preparations to the Universiade 2019. Picture: Kremlin.ru

Passengers in Krasnoyarsk were loaded into their Pobeda Boeing 737 ready for a flight when suddenly the blinds on one side of the aircraft were shut by an official.

A two hour delay ensured, with the plane door open, no heating on, and the -16C air quickly turning the plane into a freezer.

Grigory Skorchenko, a passenger, explained: 'Everything was as usual: check-in, boarding. 

'We were put in a bus and taken to the aircraft. 

Sitting in the cold plane

'We are cold and outraged!'  Picture: Maria Bystrova

'Literally a few minutes later the pilot announced that because of arrival of officials - at first time, I believe, he even said Putin but later only said officials - the airport was shut down even for the airport's employees that are not allowed to runway area. 

'That's why we can't close the doors, because there is no-one to remove the steps.

'Both doors remained open so there was a draft. It was -16°C….

'It was cold, the heating wasn't on, as pilot explained there was no technical capability. 

Putin and hockey team


Putin in Krasnoyarsk


traffic jam

Putin poses with hockey players and checks sports objects. People are waiting in traffic jams. Picture: Kremlin.ru, NGS

'There were children on board, but most people had thick clothes because we are in Siberia anyway. 

'But it's still unpleasant of course when you sit, it's really cold even if you're dressed. 

'How did people react? 

'No one was angry with the air carrier, some were quiet, some were swearing at authorities, let's say.' 

Passenger Maria Bystrova Tweeted: 'Forced to close blinds on one side of the aircraft, time of departure unknown, doors can't be closed because the steps haven't been removed. 

'We are cold and outraged!' 

Novosibirsk Akademgorodok


Novosibirsk Akademgorodok

Residents of Novosibirsk Akademgorodok warned to be careful during the visit. Pictures: NGS

She asked: 'Why were the blinds shut? Is it for Putin's safety or is it just unpleasant for Putin to see us? Given our condition, the latter.’

In Krasnoyarsk and Novosibirsk, where the president is visiting on Thursday, there were reports of residents on high floors on certain streets being visited by police and told not to open their windows. 

Krasnoyarsk resident Gleb Protopopov said: 'A beauty from the police visited me, told us not to come to the windows on the 8th [of February] and not to open them. A specially protected VIP would be driving past.'

Elsewhere cellars in certain blocks were locked and access barred. 

It was also claimed that more risqué advertisements on street sites were replaced with more ‘modest’ images.

Comments (6)

This is in response to Mike Andrews, of Blairsville, GA USA, who is a complete and utter fool. What a crock of crap to say such a thing as this. Idiot! The Romanovs were bastards. "Mr. Putin is the best thing that's happened to Mother Russia since the halcyon days of freedom under Tsar Nicholas, before the Bolsheviks murdered the royal family and imposed Communist dictatorship on the Russian people."
Valerie Volk-Sober, United States
28/02/2018 02:29
0
0
This sounds like just standard security procedures. They would have been put in place no-matter who was President. It is not Putin who orders them - he likely had no idea how they would have impacted on the residents - but if you follow the many investigations following the assassination of Kennedy in US, you know that no windows are every left open, every access point i.e. cellars, are locked. Publishing the annoyances of residence indicates either ignorance on the part of the newspaper and citizens, or a deliberate attempt to blacken Putin prior to the election. Cast your minds back to the hell your went through in the 1990s because without Putin, that's exactly where you will be again. And this time, there will come no-one to save you.
Pamela , Ecuador
09/02/2018 18:44
4
2
当然,只怕领袖不能面面俱到!表达自己的状态,这就是民意,也是切身的自由,这并不是错!就是沙皇也不能冻死饿死人民而自己无动于衷吧!?
姚剑申, 巨鹿/中国
09/02/2018 08:38
2
2
为什么人们常常呼唤着自由,却呼唤来独裁?因为政治问题永远有规则,不能太自由。呼唤自由的,只是呼唤自己的自由,自己的自由,是建立在对别人的控制之上的。
姚剑申, 巨鹿/中国
09/02/2018 08:11
2
2
"halcyon days of freedom under Tsar Nicholas". That guy got detached from reality, or never reviewed history.
Andres Suarez, Mexico
08/02/2018 21:02
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This is a hatchet piece coming quite predictably now, in close proximity to a new election cycle when the Communists will parade their candidate before the public eye. Impugning the image of President Putin is vital to the enemies of Russian freedom at this critical point in time.

But if the Russian people get any other candidate as president they can just kiss their freedom and their peaceful home life goodbye.

Mr. Putin is the best thing that's happened to Mother Russia since the halcyon days of freedom under Tsar Nicholas, before the Bolsheviks murdered the royal family and imposed Communist dictatorship on the Russian people.

Smear jobs against Vladimir Putin, which is what this article amounts to, should be taken with a grain of salt.
Mike Andrews, Blairsville, GA USA
08/02/2018 18:52
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3
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