Navy Main HQ refutes cancellation of its transfer

03.09.2010 Transfer of Navy Main HQ from Moscow to St. Petersburg will be done, reports RIA Novosti referring to Oleg Burtsev, Deputy Chief of Navy Main HQ.

According to Burtsev, there was no decision to cancel the transfer and it will be done, although won't be completed in 2010. Some organization departments of Navy Main HQ have already moved and are functioning in St. Petersburg in full scale; in particular, peacetime auxiliary control center, military acceptance boards, shipbuilding and electronic warfare commissions, and some departments of maritime scientific committee.

The breakthrough infrastructural basis is vitally needed for full-scale transfer of Navy Main HQ to St. Petersburg; this structure is being created, added Burtsev.

In the morning of Sept 3 RIA Novosti reported referring to a source in defense ministry that decision to transfer Navy Main HQ from Moscow to St. Petersburg had been revoked. According to the source, Navy Main HQ would move from the building nearby Krashye Vorota subway station either to the General Staff or to the Frunze Military Academy.

As it was previously reported by Nezavisimaya Gazeta citing the source in defense ministry, sale of Navy Main HQ buildings in Moscow were in economic plans of the Armed Forces reform.

Transfer of Navy Main HQ to St. Petersburg was an initiative of the State Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov made in autumn 2007. The idea immediately aroused indignation of military experts saying that RUR 26-50 bln required for the transfer is an inexcusable expenditure which can inflict substantial damage to Russian armed forces. Supporters of the transfer say St. Petersburg has more developed naval infrastructure and is historically better location for Navy Main HQ.