Demolitions in Moscow draw protests
Posted February 10, 2016 6:00 am
MOSCOW (AP) - Russian activists and political commentators have criticized Moscow authorities over the late-night destruction of buildings and shops around the city.
The Moscow mayor's office said that 97 "unauthorized constructions" were demolished Monday.
These included buildings and shops - and also kiosks selling items from ranging from pastries and flowers to trinkets and kebabs.
Muscovites vented their displeasure on social media sites on Tuesday. They used hashtags such as "Moscow," ''apocalypse," ''demolition" and "ruin" in the captions of pictures of the demolished kiosks.
Mayor Sergey Sobyanin says the owners of the demolished structures will be offered rental properties elsewhere in the city.
Municipal workers clean up debris of flattened kiosks with the Christ the Saviour Cathedral at the background in downtown Moscow, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. About half of Moscow's 104 kiosks, which sell items from ranging from pastries and flowers to trinkets and kebabs, were flattened Monday evening. The city decided to tear them down in December, and the remaining ones will be torn down by Feb. 24, according to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency. It's unclear what will be put in their place. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
The Associated Press
Ruins of flattened kiosks seen with the Christ the Saviour Cathedral at the background in downtown Moscow, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. About half of Moscow's 104 kiosks, which sell items ranging from pastries and flowers to trinkets and kebabs, were flattened Monday evening. The city decided to tear them down in December, and the remaining ones will be torn down by Feb. 24, according to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency. It's unclear what will be put in their place. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
The Associated Press
Ruins of flattened kiosks seen with the Christ the Saviour Cathedral at the background in Moscow, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. About half of Moscow's 104 kiosks, which sell items ranging from pastries and flowers to trinkets and kebabs, were flattened Monday evening. The city decided to tear them down in December, and the remaining ones will be torn down by Feb. 24, according to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency. It's unclear what will be put in their place. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
The Associated Press
Ruins of flattened kiosks seen with the Christ the Saviour Cathedral at the background in downtown Moscow, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. About half of Moscow's 104 kiosks, which sell items ranging from pastries and flowers to trinkets and kebabs, were flattened Monday evening. The city decided to tear them down in December, and the remaining ones will be torn down by Feb. 24, according to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency. It's unclear what will be put in their place. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
The Associated Press
Municipal workers clean up debris of flattened kiosks near a subway station in downtown Moscow, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. About half of Moscow's 104 kiosks, which sell items from ranging from pastries and flowers to trinkets and kebabs, were flattened Monday evening. The city decided to tear them down in December, and the remaining ones will be torn down by Feb. 24, according to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency. It's unclear what will be put in their place. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
The Associated Press
Ruins of flattened kiosks seen with the Christ the Saviour Cathedral at the background in downtown Moscow, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. About half of Moscow's 104 kiosks, which sell items ranging from pastries and flowers to trinkets and kebabs, were flattened Monday evening. The city decided to tear them down in December, and the remaining ones will be torn down by Feb. 24, according to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency. It's unclear what will be put in their place. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
The Associated Press
Ruins of flattened kiosks seen with the Christ the Saviour Cathedral at the background in downtown Moscow, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. About half of Moscow's 104 kiosks, which sell items ranging from pastries and flowers to trinkets and kebabs, were flattened Monday evening. The city decided to tear them down in December, and the remaining ones will be torn down by Feb. 24, according to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency. It's unclear what will be put in their place. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
The Associated Press
Ruins of flattened kiosks seen with the Christ the Saviour Cathedral at the background in Moscow, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. About half of Moscow's 104 kiosks, which sell items ranging from pastries and flowers to trinkets and kebabs, were flattened Monday evening. The city decided to tear them down in December, and the remaining ones will be torn down by Feb. 24, according to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency. It's unclear what will be put in their place. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
The Associated Press
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