Navy Main HQ buildings must be vacated till June 1

16.05.2011 Buildings of Russian Navy Main HQ in Moscow must be vacated till June 1 due to its transfer to St. Petersburg, reported Friday RIA Novosti referring to a spokesman for defense ministry.

"Navy Main HQ buildings in Bolshoi Kozlovsky Alley must be vacated till June 1 because of coming transfer to St. Petersburg", said the source. According to him, about 200 admirals and officers must leave the capital for St. Petersburg till the end of May; the Navy has already received appropriate directives.

The source did not answer who would occupy Navy HQ buildings in Moscow. Representative of defense ministry also said that other buildings of Navy HQ in Moscow are not vacated so far being still under the Navy's jurisdiction. They are Navy Arms Department in Bolshoi Zlatoustinsky Alley, Navy Aviation Department in Skakovaya Avenue, and Navy Logistic Department in Spartakovskaya Square.

The issue of Navy Main HQ transfer to St. Petersburg has been discussed for several years; many decisions have been made during this time, both to move the headquarters and to leave in Moscow. Some years ago the door plaques were hung on the Admiralty building in St. Petersburg indicating Navy Main HQ and Navy Commander-in-Chief's office. Deputy defense minister Grigory Naginsky told to reporters in Oct 2010 that transfer of Navy Main HQ to St. Petersburg was not in view.