Navy Main HQ Relocation: RUR 3 Bln Needed, Accommodation Issues Unsettled

29.02.2012 Transfer of Russian Navy Main HQ from Moscow to St. Petersburg may be canceled, a source in parliamentary committee for defense told Central Navy Portal. The move of headquarters may need about RUR 3 bln.

According to the source, transfer of the Navy Main HQ faces several serious problems. One of them is considerable financial expenses which are evaluated as RUR 3 bln. Another substantial difficulty is unsettled social issues (accommodation for staff officers have not been accepted by defense ministry). Besides, to implement the HQ relocation plan, command would have to resolve a problem of over 1,000 outstaffed officers having no positions.

Experts have common opinion that transfer of the Navy Main HQ from Moscow to St. Petersburg would considerably weaken control system and undermine interaction between the Navy and federal agencies.

Earlier on, it was reported that Russian Navy Main HQ would move to St. Petersburg after the presidential elections. The transfer was scheduled on Feb 16, although that deadline was postponed due to technical reasons.

Recall that the idea to move the headquarters to St. Petersburg was suggested to defense minister Anatoly Serdiukov in the fall of 2007 by the then parliamentary speaker Boris Gryzlov. Relocation of the headquarters was explained by Moscow's congestion of administrative and managerial functions, and redressing of a historical injustice, because prior to the October Socialistic Revolution of 1917 the Navy command had been located in Petersburg.