Kronshtadt Naval Officers' Club to be disbanded

30.08.2011 According to defense ministers' order, Kronshtadt Naval Officers' Club will be disbanded, a source in defense ministry told to Central Navy Portal.

An order to disband this cultural institution has been already issued. That information was confirmed by the head of Kronshtadt Naval Officers' Club Capt 1 rank (retired) Nurchuk Shidakov. As for him, there is an order to establish another officers' club, however, unrelated to the Navy and Leningrad Naval Base. Therefore, the matter is only reassignment of the club with minimal staff changes.

"Only account section will be dismissed, their function will be upon superior organization", Shidakov said. "Other departments will face no changes as well as its location".

Recall that Kronshtadt Naval Officers' Club is located in historical building of former Maritime Assembly, in its third officers' ell rebuilt specially for the club in mid-XIX century under project of architect R.I. Kuzmin. Early in XX century, the Russia's largest club library was located in the Maritime Assembly building. That was a place where S.O. Makarov and A.S. Popov used to give their lectures on Navy development and scientific achievements. Famous actors often appeared on the stage of the Maritime Assembly, such as N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov, V.V. Andreyev, N.N. Figner, tragedy actress P.A. Strepetova and many others.

The Maritime Assembly was reconstructed in 2003 with assistance of Leningrad Naval Base command, administration of Kronshtadt and its residents; Rear Admiral (retired) A.V. Speshilov was elected its chairman.

Even simple reassignment of Kronshtadt Naval Officers' Club would inflict irretrievable strike upon naval traditions and customs, say numerous active and retired naval officers.